HCSS PCT I, PCT II, and Patient Safety Assistant

PATIENT CARE TECHNICIAN I

JOB SUMMARY: To provide basic technical assistance and supportive patient care to meet the needs of individual patients throughout assigned areas.

MAJOR DUTIES/CRITICAL TASKS:

• Collects, reports, and documents data: Vital signs, height and weight, intake and output, pulse oximetry, and collects specimens.

• Obtains blood samples by venipuncture.

• Acquires 12 lead EKG.

• Performs and reports POCT.

• Assists with patient activities and care as assigned by the charge nurse/designee as indicated by the patient's plan of care.

• Provides for patients' personal hygiene: Bathes patients, performs oral suctioning and superficial wound care, assists with chronic wound care, provides skincare for a patient with TED hose, SCD, casts, skeletal pins, assists with elimination, cares for the incontinent patient, cares for the patient with a urinary catheter, assists or gives cleansing enemas, sitz baths, non-sterile douches, and provides ostomy care.

• Assists with feeding.

• Ambulates, positions, and turns patients and cares for the patient with altered mobility.

• Assists with patient safety related to age and condition

• Assists with patient restraints and patient-specific safety precautions

• Collects, reports, and documents data related to patient needs/emergencies and unusual patient and family behavior

• Cares for the patient from a correctional environment.

• Maintains patient privacy and confidentiality of information and records at all times.

• Provides and maintains a clean, safe environment and performs and/or assists others to perform proper aseptic technique, isolation procedures, and infection control measures.

• Documents as appropriate.

• Maintains patient care areas with appropriate supplies.

• Assists with patient requests for other hospital services.

• Ability to effectively communicate verbally and/or in written form.

• Customer service orientation and values.

• Ability to negotiate solutions and outcomes.

• Team player.

• Ability to maximize people and financial resources.

• Ability to work in partnership with management and staff.

REQUIRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• High school diploma or equivalent

• Two (2) years of experience in a direct patient care environment including acute patient care, nursing home, or LTAC experience within the last two years OR

• Current enrollment in a recognized School of Nursing with completion of first semester of education which contains clinical concepts and health assessment or the equivalent.

• Must not be in final semester of nursing program.

• Must provide college transcript and letter of recommendation from current nursing instructor

• Must have current BLS certification issued thru American Heart Association.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORKING CONDITIONS:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, hand/ finger dexterity, and type on a computer keyboard. Specific vision abilities required by this job include regularly working on a Visual Display Terminal (VDT), close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Includes intermittent physical activity such as bending, reaching, and lifting.

• The employee is regularly required to talk or hear.

• Noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

• May require heavy lifting, pushing, or pulling more than fifty pounds.

*Official Regulatory Statement for Healthcare Job Descriptions: May be exposed to such occupational hazards as communicable diseases, blood borne pathogens, ionizing & non-ionizing radiation, hazardous medications and disoriented or combative patients or others.

PATIENT CARE TECHNICIAN II

JOB SUMMARY: To provide technical assistance and supportive patient care to meet

the needs of individual patients throughout assigned areas.

MAJOR DUTIES/CRITICAL TASKS:

• Collects, reports, and documents data. Takes vital signs, height and weight, intake and output, pulse oximetry, and collects specimens.

• Obtains blood samples by venipuncture.

• Acquires 12 lead EKG.

• Performs and reports POCT.

• Assists with patient activities and care as assigned by the charge nurse/designee as indicated by the patient's plan of care.

• Provides for patients' personal hygiene. Bathes patients, performs oral suctioning, superficial wound care, assists with elimination, and cares for the incontinent patient and the patient with a urinary catheter. Assists or gives cleansing enemas, sitz baths, non-sterile douches, and provides ostomy care.

• Assists with feeding.

• Ambulates, positions, and turns patients and cares for the patient with altered mobility.

• Assists with the admission, transfer, and discharge of the patient.

• Assists the healthcare team by preparing patients and chaperoning during examinations/procedures or assists with other patient treatments.

• Provides for patient safety related to age and condition.

• Assists with patient restraints and maintains patient-specific safety precautions.

• Collects, reports, and documents data related to patient needs/emergencies and unusual patient and family behavior.

• Cares for the patient from a correctional environment

• Maintains patient privacy and confidentiality of information and health records at all times.

• Provides and maintains a clean, safe environment and performs and/or assists others to perform proper aseptic technique, isolation procedures, and infection control measures.

• Maintains patient care areas with appropriate supplies.

• Assists with patient requests for other hospital services.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES:

• Ability to effectively communicate verbally and/or in written form.

• Customer service orientation and values.

• Ability to negotiate solutions and outcomes.

• Team player.

• Ability to maximize people and financial resources.

• Ability to work in partnership with management and staff.

REQUIRED EDUCATION:

• High school diploma or equivalent

• One (1) year of experience in a direct patient care environment within the last two years AND completion of one (1) of the following technical programs:

• Completion of a recognized Nurse Assistant (CNA) program OR

• Completion of Medical Corpsman program OR

• Completion of EMT program OR

• Current enrollment in a recognized School of Nursing with completion of first semester of education which contains clinical concepts and health assessment or the equivalent.

• Must not be in final semester of nursing program. Must provide college transcript and letter of recommendation from current nursing instructor.

• Must have current BLS certification issued thru American Heart Association.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT/EQUIPMENT:

Standard Hospital Environment. Uses standard patient care supplies, equipment and mechanical devices.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORKING CONDITIONS:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, hand/ finger dexterity, and type on a computer keyboard. Specific vision abilities required by this job include regularly working on a Visual Display Terminal (VDT), close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Includes intermittent physical activity such as bending, reaching, and lifting

• The employee is regularly required to talk or hear.

• Noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

• May require heavy lifting, pushing, or pulling more than fifty pounds.

*Official Regulatory Statement for Healthcare Job Descriptions: May be exposed to such occupational hazards as communicable diseases, blood borne pathogens, ionizing & non-ionizing radiation, hazardous medications and disoriented or combative patients or others.

PATIENT SAFETY ASSISTANT

JOB SUMMARY: The patient safety assistant provides activities which support the daily functions and operations of an assigned patient care unit. To provide continuous observation and appropriate documentation on activity of an assigned patient who has been identified as having increased risk for injury. Works with the multidisciplinary team through clear and timely communications. Reports directly to the assigned patient's nurse and/or charge nurse, working to promote safety in patient care.

MAJOR DUTIES / CRITICAL TASKS:

• Contributes to the success of UTMB Health Care Systems Staffing.

• Prior to the start of the shift, receives a report from the assigned nurse on the following:

• Patient's name and pertinent social information regarding the family,

• The reason that the patient has been assigned a Patient Safety Assistant, and

• Specific concerns (as identified in the medical record, by family members, by the previous shift's staff, etc.) regarding the patient's safety needs.

• Documents and reports sequential events on the appropriate records or log and communicates patient's needs or specific changes to the assigned nurse and/or charge nurse.

• Assists with safe, prompt transfers of patients from various hospital/clinic areas

• Does not leave patient unattended at any time.

• Transports specimens and requisitions to the appropriate areas.

• Helps to feed patients who need assistance to eat.

• Assists with personal care, including baths, weighing, and linen and bed changes

• Recognizes obvious patient care priorities; communicates patient needs/ emergencies to the appropriate staff

• Provides simple comfort measures that do not interfere with the primary role of continuous observation of the patient. Follows policies and operating procedures when relieving in a supply booth as well as

• Clinical area: orders adequate supplies, checks for expiration dates, verifies charges, as directed by supervisor.

• Records activities requiring documentation and signs on the appropriate records/logs.

• Always maintains patient's privacy and confidentiality of information.

• Provides a clean, safe environment; performs or assists others to perform proper aseptic techniques, isolation procedures, and infection control measures.

• Adheres to internal controls established for department.

• Performs other related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES:

• Ability to effectively communicate verbally and/or in written form.

• Customer service orientation and values.

• Ability to negotiate solutions and outcomes.

• Team player.

• Ability to maximize people and financial resources.

• Ability to work in partnership with management and staff.

REQUIRED EDUCATION:

• High school or equivalent.

• 6 months to 1-year prior experience in a health care setting

• Prefer previous hospital experience.

• Must have valid CPR/BLS certified through American Heart Association

EQUIPEMENT:

• Patient Call Systems.

• Patient bed settings and bed alarms.

• Chair Alarms

PHYSICAL DEMANS/WORKING CONDITIONS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The employee is regularly required to talk or hear.

• Noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

• Work environment is in a comfortable indoor area.

• Conditions, such as noise, odors, cramped workspace and/or fumes could sometimes cause discomfort.

• Moderate physical effort may be required such as walking, standing, sitting, and lifting.

• Vision, hearing, talking, and sense of touch abilities must be adequate to enable clear and accurate verbal communication with patient, family, or staff.

• Alertness and careful attention to detail will be required to avoid injury.

• May be exposed to such occupational hazards as hospital acquired infections and communicable diseases

Other: Specific job requirements or physical location of some positions allocated to this classification, may render this position security sensitive, and thereby subject to the provisions of Section 51.215, Texas Education Code.

PCT I

REQUIRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• High school diploma or equivalent

• Two (2) years of experience in a direct patient care environment including acute patient care, nursing home, or LTAC experience within the last two years OR

• Current enrollment in a recognized School of Nursing with completion of first semester of education which contains clinical concepts and health assessment or the equivalent.

• Must not be in final semester of nursing program.

• Must provide college transcript and letter of recommendation from current nursing instructor

• Must have current BLS certification issued thru American Heart Association.

PCT II

REQUIRED EDUCATION:

• High school diploma or equivalent

• One (1) year of experience in a direct patient care environment within the last two years AND completion of one (1) of the following technical programs:

• Completion of a recognized Nurse Assistant (CNA) program OR

• Completion of Medical Corpsman program OR

• Completion of EMT program OR

• Current enrollment in a recognized School of Nursing with completion of first semester of education which contains clinical concepts and health assessment or the equivalent.

• Must not be in final semester of nursing program. Must provide college transcript and letter of recommendation from current nursing instructor.

• Must have current BLS certification issued thru American Heart Association.

PSA

REQUIRED EDUCATION:

• High school or equivalent.

• 6 months to 1-year prior experience in a health care setting

• Prefer previous hospital experience.

• Must have valid CPR/BLS certified through American Heart Association

Compensation