What are the responsibilities and job description for the Patient Care Associate II 36 hrs/nights Observation Unit position at Mass General Brigham?
Job Summary:
The Patient Care Assistant II provides patient care and performs unit activities under the direction of the Registered Professional Nurse. These include, but are not limited to, direct patient care activities such as taking vital signs and assisting patients with the basic activities of daily living, as well as non-clinical activities such as acting as a receptionist, coordinating equipment, providing transportation activities, and performing tasks specific to the department assigned.
The Patient Care Assistant II interacts with patients, families, nursing, and a variety of interdisciplinary personnel and possesses strong interpersonal and communication skills. The PCA II staff collaborate among themselves to ensure safe patient care and smooth unit operations.
Essential Functions:
The Patient Care Assistant II provides patient care and performs unit activities under the direction of the Registered Professional Nurse. These include, but are not limited to, direct patient care activities such as taking vital signs and assisting patients with the basic activities of daily living, as well as non-clinical activities such as acting as a receptionist, coordinating equipment, providing transportation activities, and performing tasks specific to the department assigned.
The Patient Care Assistant II interacts with patients, families, nursing, and a variety of interdisciplinary personnel and possesses strong interpersonal and communication skills. The PCA II staff collaborate among themselves to ensure safe patient care and smooth unit operations.
Essential Functions:
- Demonstrates NWH CAREfirst standards of behavior while working toward accomplishing the hospital goals: acknowledges customer, introduces self, explains situation, and answers questions in a warm and welcoming manner
- Prepares patient rooms for admission
- Orients the patient and family to the unit/room upon admission
- Keeps the patient and family informed of scheduled routines and activities
- Ensures patient safety and promotes comfort
- Assists patients with activities of daily living such as hygiene, elimination needs, ambulation, and nourishment; performs these activities for patients who are unable to care for themselves
- Takes vital signs; performs blood sugar testing; measures patients height and weight; records intake, output and amount eaten. Reports significant changes to the Registered Nurse
- Documents patient data in the medical record in a timely manner dates and times all entries
- Ensures a safe environment for staff and specific populations served
- Maintains appropriate situational safety standards, such as personal protective equipment and proper body mechanics during patient care activities
- Maintains annual job requirements/competencies such as mandatory education, CPR, and employee health requirements
- Performs duties as assigned under the direction of the RN
- Receives and reports patient information to the RN
- Contributes to the plan of care through communication with the Registered Nurse
- Observes and reports changes in patients' condition to RN
- Runs errands as directed
- Uses the Premise System to request transport for the purpose of picking up supplies and equipment
- Transports patients via stretcher, wheelchair, bed, isolette, crib, or escorts to various areas within the Hospital
- Transports equipment, supplies, patient belongings, pharmaceuticals and specimens to and from other departments, as requested
- Ensures the CAREfirst standards of service excellence are consistently used to enhance the overall patient experience
- Provides 1:1 patient observation as assigned
- Maintains environment, supplies and equipment
- Orders supplies and equipment as directed by the manager or charge nurse
- Provides effective hand off to relieving Patient Care Assistant and reports off to assigned nurse prior to break and at end of assigned shift
- Performs phlebotomy procedures as assigned
- Greets, directs, and assists all persons arriving on the unit; answers phone; and receives and relays messages accurately and in a timely fashion
- Maintains a clean and safe working environment assuring a positive first impression of the area
- Demonstrates competence in all software systems in use on the assigned unit
- Acts as a liaison between the unit and other departments
- Orders supplies and equipment; maintains designated par levels of supplies
- Performs clerical duties related to admission, discharge, and transfer of patients, as assigned
- CPR training required
- Phlebotomy training and experience preferred
- Must be able to speak and understand written and oral English communication
- High school graduate or equivalent
- Six months of 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 Assistant Training Program.
