Description
Under the direction of a registered/licensed nurse (RN), the Patient Care Associate (PCA) as a member of the interdisciplinary health care team assists in clinical support functions to promote a safe, compassionate patient care environment.
Essential Functions
- Assists with meeting direct patient care needs
- Consistently fosters a healing environment with respect and kindness demonstrating respect for all individuals with sensitivity to cultural diversity
- Contributes to the plan of care through ongoing communication with the RN
- Assists with patient data and specimen collection
- Assists with equipment preparation and set up
- Supports a Culture of Safety by providing a safe and comfortable patient/family experience where risks are reduced and/or eliminated, by performing the following:
- Completes hourly patient care rounds, anticipating patient needs proactively
- Maintains patient and family privacy and confidentiality
- Responds to patient and family requests, including answering patient call lights in a timely manner
- Seeks registered nurse assistance to meet patient/family needs when necessary.
- Communicates in a respectful manner with all members of the interdisciplinary team
- Monitors patient and environment for safety concerns and immediately reports changes to RN/licensed nurse
- Maintains a safe and clean patient care environment
- Follows Infection Prevention Practices:
- Proper hand washing demonstrated 100% of the time.
- Utilizes two patient identifiers for proper patient identification prior to all specimen collections
- Follows Safe Patient Handling principles to maintain safety for both patients and staff
- Documents aspects of care on approved forms or electronic medical record
- Participates as a member of the Interdisciplinary team to meet patient/family and unit/department needs
- Proactively provides assistance to others
- Performs delegated responsibilities and demonstrates willingness to adapt to changing unit demands
- Provides care appropriate to age group of patients on assigned unit(s) as described in the relevant unit profiles
- In collaboration with the Nursing Manager/Director and Clinical Nurse Specialist/Nursing Practice Specialist/Nursing Professional Development Specialist, identifies and meets learning needs, including:
- Completes annual required training
- Updates knowledge through periodic in-services
Direct Patient Care:
- Assists with activities of daily living (i.e. personal hygiene/grooming, bathing/showering, toileting, dressing, and functionality/mobility)
- Sets up food trays and assist patients with meals as indicated
- Performs preventative skin care
- Assists patients with positioning, turning, mobilization, ambulation, passive and active range of motion per plan of care
- Applies/removes pneumatic sequential compression sleeves
- Adheres to standard precautions
- Adheres to hand hygiene guidelines
- Assists with admission/discharge process
- Provides safe patient transportation
- Orients patients and families/visitors to surroundings
- Ensures safekeeping of patient valuables including packing and storing
- Checks patients for ID bands, and notifies nurse if replacement is needed
Patient Data and Specimen Collection:
- Utilizes 2 patient identifiers for proper patient identification prior to all specimen collections
- Obtains and records vital signs, pulse oximetry and non-invasive B/P and immediately reports changes to RN/licensed nurse
- Performs blood glucose testing
Equipment:
- Retrieves equipment from other areas
- Cleans equipment between patient use
- Follows equipment management protocols on assigned unit for patient use:
- Suction canister-liner system
- Patient lifting equipment
- Scales: Standing/Chair/Wheelchair
- Provides a Safe and Comfortable Patient/Family experience
- Adheres to service excellence standards during care provision with respectful, courteous, culturally sensitive care
- Responds to call lights in a timely manner and prioritizes call light response appropriately
- Participates in hourly rounding per unit protocol
- Provides constant observation for patients at risk for injury in person or virtually
- Reapplies soft restraints/roll belt per unit protocol
- Uses principles of Safe Patient Handling
Documentation on Approved Forms and in Medical Record:
- Records intake of fluids and food
- Records height and weight
- Records output of urine, stool, vomitus, and drain output
- Records vital signs, pulse oximetry and noninvasive BPs
- Records blood glucose results
Qualifications
Job Knowledge and Skills:
- Successful completion of the literacy exam with a score of 80% or better (PCA Training Program candidates only)
- Knowledge of English language sufficient to read, speak, and write accurately
- Knowledge of simple arithmetic
- Ability to lift and transport patients using the appropriate physical technique in a safe manner for the patient and self, according to Safe Patient Handling Guidelines
- Ability to master basic computer skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills to interact effectively with patients, visitors and hospital personnel
Education:
- High school graduate or equivalent
Experience:
- Six months experience as a Nursing Assistant or is a Nursing Student currently enrolled in a formal program who has successfully completed at least one clinical rotation or is currently enrolled in, and successfully completes, the NWH Patient Care Associate Training Program
Licenses, Certifications and/or Registrations (if applicable):
- Certification as a Nursing Assistant preferred
EEO Statement Newton-Wellesley Hospital will provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, veteran or active military status, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation. Primary Location: MA-Newton-NWH Main Campus Work Locations: NWH Main Campus 2014 Washington Street Newton 02462 Job: Nursing Assistant/Patient Care Associate Organization: Newton-Wellesley Hospital(NWH) Schedule: Part-time Standard Hours: 24 Shift: Day Job Employee Status: Regular Recruiting Department: NWH Med/Surg Nursing Job Posting: Jul 29, 2024