Patient Care Tech - Neurosurgery Progressive Care - Rotating - PRN

vcuhealth; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

VCU Health's Acute Neuroscience Trauma unit provides specialized care for neurology and neurosurgery patients in a Level I Trauma Center. The unit treats brain and spinal injuries, strokes, and related conditions, with a focus on safety and patient-centered care.

Nurses collaborate across services to ensure high-quality outcomes and team resilience. Positions require CNA/MA/EMT credentials, health environment experience, and the ability to work in a fast-paced, high-acuity setting.

Qualifications

• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or equivalent required.
• Medical Assistant, EMT or related healthcare certification preferred.
• Experience within a healthcare environment highly valued.
• Completion of foundations/clinical nursing course and one clinical rotation highly regarded.

Responsibilities

• Provide safe and direct care to patients in their assigned unit, monitoring conditions and updating the health care team.
• Deliver direct and indirect patient care to meet comfort, hygiene and safety needs.
• Follow nursing and hospital policies when delivering care.
• Maintain a safe, clean, stocked environment to support patient care.
• Assist with patient assessment, vitals, and data recording per policy.
• Contribute to patient experience by communicating care plans and responding to safety concerns.

Education

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or equivalent

Medical Assistant

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

Military Corpsmen/Medic

Nursing Aide Training Program

Experience within a healthcare environment

Completion of foundations/ clinical nursing course and one clinical rotation

Job description

The Acute Neuroscience Trauma unit is the primary unit for neurology and neurosurgery patients-acute and progressive care. We are a Level I Trauma Center and Joint Commission accredited Comprehensive Stroke Center of Excellence. The patient population we service consists of brain and spinal cord injuries, strokes, seizures, and a variety of movement disorders. Apply to this fast-paced, high acuity unit and grow your knowledge in the care of patients with lumbar drains, stable ventilators, tracheostomies, complex wounds and post- operative care. Our unit collaborates with other services to provide the safest, patient centered care. We have a highly engaged nurse resiliency team and amazing team work.

Essential Job Functions

• Provide safe and direct care to patients in their assigned unit making age-appropriate adjustments as needed. Monitor patients' conditions and provide updates to the health care team.
• Provide direct and indirect care to patients with and without medical/surgical complications to meet their comfort, personal hygiene and safety needs.
• Provide care in accordance with nursing and medical plans of care and deliver per VCUHS Nursing and Hospital policy and procedure.
• Ensure assigned clinical location is maintained as a safe, clean, stocked environment to facilitate meeting patient needs and unit/healthcare team functioning.
• Maintain supplies, educational material, equipment, sterilization of supplies, instruments and the environment to promote quality, safe patient care outcomes (as applicable).
• Contribute to the patient experience by accurately identifying the patient, by observing safety goals and reporting to a licensed independent practitioner, manager and/or Registered Nurses regarding the patient's physical and mental responses to the plan of care or any incident posing harm or threat to a patient.
• Obtain and record initial and ongoing patient information throughout the cycle of care, including admissions data, vital signs, height and weight, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, intake and output, calorie counts, and other patient information as outlined by VCUHS policy.
• Obtain or assist in the collection of specimens for diagnostic or waived tests.
• Attend all mandatory in-services and trainings and adhere to online training requirements.
• Ensure patient safety in the performance of job functions and through participation in hospital, department or unit patient safety initiatives.
• Establish and maintain courteous and effective rapport with patients, visitors, co-workers, and other members of health care team; demonstrate sensitivity and awareness to needs of patients, visitors and co-workers and respond promptly to verbal and/or written instructions.
• Performs other duties, as assigned.

Patient Population

Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide equitable care appropriate to the age of the patients served on their assigned unit.

Demonstrates knowledge and related competencies of the principles of growth and development of the life span and possesses the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interprets the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to their age, specific needs and to provide the equitable care needed as described in departmental policies and procedures.

Neonates (0-4 weeks), Infant (1-12 months), Pediatrics (1-12 years), Adolescents (13-17 years), Adolescents (13-17 years), Adults (18-64 years), Geriatrics (65 years and older)

Employment Qualifications

Required Education

• High School Degree or equivalent

Preferred Education

• Certified Nursing Assistant

Licensure/Certification Required

• AHA BLS HCP Certification or equivalent

Licensure/Certification Preferred

N/A

Minimum Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Certified Nursing Assistant
• Medical Assistant
• Emergency Medical Technician
• Military Corpsmen/Medic
• Nursing Aide Training Program
• Experience within a healthcare environment
• OR Completion of foundations/ clinical nursing course and one clinical rotation.

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

• Knowledge of patient data collection and documentation (i.e. vital signs, intake/output, change in patient condition)
• Knowledge of basic hygiene and activities of daily living care
• Ability to assist with feeding, hydration, and nutrition
• Ability to assist with ambulation and patient mobility
• Ability to provide safe, compassionate care
• Accountability for completion of assigned tasks
• Ability to wear personal protective equipment as needed

Cultural Responsiveness

Demonstrates a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively m