Patient Care Associate

Overview

VPNE is a family-owned, fun, and rapidly growing company headquartered in the Greater Boston Area. VPNE, has been collaborating with the world’s finest hospitals to solve their people and logistics challenges since 1990. We promote growth from within and instill our company's family values in an ever-expanding business. Our teammates are energetic, friendly, and proactive in helping VPNE build its brand – all while working at the world’s most prestigious healthcare institutions. Are you a dedicated professional who thrives in a fun, fast-paced, team-oriented environment? Are you interested in joining a community of teammates who are spirited, driven, and diverse? If so, you belong at VPNE. We are a recognized leader in healthcare, looking for people like you to help deliver world-class care and help our clients’ hospitals perform at the highest levels. Apply today to jump-start your future as a Patient Care Associate!

Responsibilities

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

• Other duties as assigned

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:

• Cardiac monitors

• Portable oxygen cylinder

• Nasal cannula/face mask

• Pulse oximeter and probe

• 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)

• CPR training required

• 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

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