Patient Support Assistant

Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanderbilt Health is seeking Personal Support Assistants to provide hands-on, non-medical care to adults in their homes, following individualized care plans to promote safety and independence.

The role requires completion of the agency's PSA licensure program, strong communication with supervisors, and meticulous documentation of visits, with focus on ADLs, fall prevention, and compassionate patient support. This is a home-based role within the VHCS Clinical - Private Duty setting.

Qualifications

• Successful completion of agency's PSA licensure program.

Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on ADL support including bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, incontinence care, and safe meal assistance for adults requiring physical support.
• Perform limited health-related tasks such as cueing for medication routines, supporting simple mobility exercises, and assisting with safe transfers using agency-approved techniques.
• Independently deliver in-home care following the patient's service plan and adapt tasks as needed to maintain safety while remaining within PSA scope.
• Observe and report meaningful changes in patient condition, behavior, functional status, or home environment to the assigned supervisor in a timely and accurate manner.
• Implement safety and risk-reduction practices such as fall-prevention strategies, proper body mechanics, and techniques for supporting adults with decreased mobility.
• Maintain accurate service documentation according to agency standards and state requirements, ensuring real-time or same-day completion of visit records.

Skills

Patient care

Safety & risk

Observation reporting

Care planning

Communication

Job description

Discover Vanderbilt Health

With eight hospitals and over 180 clinics, we are the region's largest comprehensive academic health system. Vanderbilt Health has a long tradition of providing world-class care to the people of the Mid-South, living out our mission of moving medicine forward through pre-eminent programs in patient care, education and research. Here you'll find a spirit of collaboration and a supportive community where your expertise is valued, your knowledge expanded and your uniqueness celebrated. We are committed to fostering an environment where talented, compassionate people are united in bringing the most advanced care to our neighbors throughout the region.

Organization

VHCS Clinical - Private Duty

Job Summary

The Personal Support Assistant (PSA) provides hands-on, non medical care to adults in their homes, supporting activities of daily living (ADLs) and select health related tasks permitted under agency policy. PSAs work independently in the home and follow individualized care plans to promote patient safety, comfort, and functional independence. This role requires successful completion of the agency's internal PSA licensure program. The PSA collaborates with supervisors and communicates changes in patient condition promptly to ensure high-quality, coordinated care.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on ADL support including bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, incontinence care, and safe meal assistance for adults requiring physical support.
• Perform limited health-related tasks such as cueing for medication routines, supporting simple mobility exercises, and assisting with safe transfers using agency-approved techniques.
• Independently deliver in-home care following the patient's service plan and adapt tasks as needed to maintain safety while remaining within PSA scope.
• Observe and report meaningful changes in patient condition, behavior, functional status, or home environment to the assigned supervisor in a timely and accurate manner.
• Implement safety and risk-reduction practices such as fall-prevention strategies, proper body mechanics, and techniques for supporting adults with decreased mobility.
• Maintain accurate service documentation according to agency standards and state requirements, ensuring real-time or same-day completion of visit records.

Technical Capabilities

• Patient Care - Advanced Support (Intermediate): Demonstrates proficiency in hands-on ADL care and mobility assistance for adults with varying levels of physical dependence.
• Safety & Risk Management (Intermediate): Applies safe transfer techniques, environmental safety checks, and fall-prevention strategies in the home setting.
• Observation & Condition Reporting (Intermediate): Identifies and communicates meaningful changes in physical, behavioral, or functional status to the supervisor promptly and clearly.
• Care Plan Implementation (Foundational - Intermediate): Follows structured care plans accurately and prioritizes tasks independently while remaining within the PSA scope.
• Professional Communication (Foundational - Intermediate): Maintains respectful, patient-centered communication with patients, families, and supervisors, including documentation that meets agency standards.

Our clinical and nursing support roles are at the center of all we do, helping us be the world leader in advancing personalized health. We support each other and encourage excellence among all who are part of our workforce. High-achieving employees stay at Vanderbilt Health for professional growth, appreciation of benefits, and a sense of community and purpose. We support each other and encourage excellence among all who are part of our workforce.

Core Accountabilities

• Organizational Impact: Performs tasks that are typically routine that may impact team's performance with occasional guidance.
• Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Utilizes some discretion and research to solve routine problems.
• Breadth of Knowledge: Applies knowledge of standards, established processes and procedure that apply to your own job.
• Team Interaction: Provides guidance to entry level co-workers.

Core Capabilities

• Supporting Colleagues : Develops Self and Others: Continuously improves own skills by identifying development opportunities.
• Builds and Maintains Relationships: Seeks to understand colleagues' priorities, working styles and develops relationships across areas.
• Communicates Effectively: Openly shares information with others and communicates in a clear and courteous manner. Delivering Excellent Services:
• Serves Others with Compassion: Invests time to understand the problems, needs of others and how to provide excellent service.
• Solves Complex Problems: Seeks to understand issues, solves routine problems, and raises proper concerns in a timely manner.
• Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Listen carefully to understand the issues and provides accurate information and support.
• Ensuring High Quality: Performs Excellent Work: Checks wor