Patient Care Technician - Observation Unit * Days - 24hrs/wk

University of Michigan Health-West; Wyoming (MI); On-site; USD 25,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

University of Michigan Health-West is seeking a Patient Care Technician (PCT) for the Observation Unit. The role supports RN-directed care, assists with activities of daily living, hygiene, vital signs, specimen collection, and routine documentation on a 24-hours-per-week schedule (Days).

Ideal candidates hold a High School Diploma or GED, current BLS/CPR, and preferably a CENA or health-science program enrollment. Prior acute care experience is preferred.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• BLS/CPR certification required.
• CENA certification or health science program enrollment preferred.
• Equivalent healthcare experience acceptable.
• Ability to maintain patient confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Assist patients with activities of daily living and comfort.
• Support hygiene and nutrition needs.
• Measure and record vital signs.
• Collect specimens and assist with basic procedures.
• Document care as directed by the RN.
• Maintain infection control standards.

Skills

Medical terminology

BLS/CPR certified

Patient care support

Education

High School Diploma or GED

CENA certification

Health science program enrollment

Equivalent healthcare experience

Job description

Patient Care Technician - Observation Unit * Days - 24hrs/wk

Requisition #: req12362

Shift: Days
FTE status: 0.6
On-call: No
Weekends: Yes

General Summary:

Under the direction of a Registered Nurse (RN), the Patient Care Technician (PCT) provides basic nursing care to patients and performs related tasks necessary to support the unit.

Requirements:

1. Minimum High School Diploma or GED required.
2. Must meet one of the following requirements:
   • Current Certified Nurse Aide (CENA) certification, or
   • Current enrollment (and continued progression) in a health science program required with completion of nursing fundamentals course and/or one clinical rotation preferred. Equivalent enrollment considered will include but is not limited to: Nursing School, Pre-PA School, Medical School, or closely related health science program, or
   • Equivalent experience. Equivalent experience considered will include but is not limited to: Medical Assistant, Paramedic, Medical First Responder, EMT, Nurse Tech, Resident Aid/Assistant, or LPN.
3. Basic understanding of Medical Terminology, Anatomy, Physiology, and Patient Confidentiality is preferred.
4. Current Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) provider required.
5. Experience in acute care or extended care facility preferred.
6. Able to successfully complete unit-specific core competencies as defined in the orientation check-list.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

1. ACTIVITY / COMFORT: Assist patients with activity of daily living and provides for patient comfort. This responsibility includes making occupied and unoccupied beds; turning and positioning patients in bed; ambulating and dangling patients; transfers patients; performs passive and assisting with active range-of-motion exercises.
2. HYGIENE: Assist patients with hygiene activities.
3. PROCEDURES: Indwelling urinary catheter care (excluding insertion, removal and irrigation); changing non-sterile dressings; providing ileostomy/colostomy care.
4. Assisting with postmortem care.
5. NUTRITION: Assist patients with nutrition including passing trays, snacks and drinking water; feeding patients; and measuring and recording intake from dietary trays.
6. ELIMINATION: Assist patients with elimination needs recording accurate input and output. Empties other drains as designated by the RN.
7. SPECIMEN COLLECTION: Collects and labels sputum, urine, and stool specimens for laboratory testing; testing urine for sugar, acetone, blood or pH; straining urine for kidney stones; and using the glucometer to test blood glucose levels.
8. VITAL SIGNS / MEASUREMENT: Measures and record accurate vital signs and weight including oral and tympanic temperature, radial and apical pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate; and using standing, chair, sling and bed scales to measure weight.
9. EQUIPMENT: Uses equipment and supplies safely and appropriately. This includes assisting patients with incentive spirometry; setting up oxygen flow meters; setting up suction equipment and disposing of suction canisters; and applying and removing ice bags, moist or dry heat, ace bandages, arm slings, binders, supports, anti-embolism stockings, sequential compression devices (SCDs), restraints.
10. INFECTION CONTROL: Assists with controlling the spread of infection by using aseptic technique; adhering to universal/standard precautions; caring appropriately for patients with special isolation precautions; passing clean linen and bagging and disposing of soiled linen; replacing full sharps containers; cleaning equipment between patients’ use; and cleaning equipment prior to return to Central Processing Department (CPD).
11. DOCUMENTATION: Document care given as directed by the RN.
12. COMMUNICATION: Communicates effectively using Vocera, unit paging system, telephone system and pneumatic tube system; answering patient call lights; reporting observations to the RN; keeping the RN informed of care delivered; maintaining patient confidentiality.
13. Performs other duties as assigned. These may include but are not limited to: Performing tasks assigned by the Registered Nurse in charge to facilitate department efficiency. Maintaining a current knowledge base of department processes and procedures for patient care, pursuing self-directed learning and continuing education opportunities, and participating on committees, task forces, and work groups as determined by management.