Patient Care Technician

Patient Care Technician

The Patient Care Technician functions as a caregiver for a specific patient population in order to achieve desired outcomes. This position focuses on expanding knowledge and skills, provides effective direct and indirect care as part of the interdisciplinary team to a variety of complex patients. Under the direction and supervision of the registered nurse, promotes patient satisfaction, comfort and safety. Assists with a variety of patient, unit and environment-related tasks. Participates in patient safety initiatives.

Responsibilities include providing patient care based on physical, psychosocial, education, safety, and related criteria, appropriate to the age of the guests/patients served in assigned service. Effective and safe guest/patients outcomes are provided through practice, judgment and critical actions. Ongoing communication with patients, nursing colleagues and other members of the health care team regarding patient's status and rendered care. Taking self-directed or self-motivated initiative to do more than is expected or required in the job, acting before being required to by events, improving job performance, and/or creating new opportunities. Participating in interdisciplinary collaboration of our patient's plan of care from admission to discharge to ensure safe transitioning and continuum of care. Participating in Unit/Department Performance Improvement [PI] activities.

Specific job functions may include but not limited to: welcoming patients and checking for proper identification bracelets, preparing the patient for assessment/admission, physical examination and procedures, recognizing and responding to opportunities to enhance patient satisfaction, demonstrating the knowledge and skill necessary to provide care appropriate to age of patients on the unit, obtaining clinical data, temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, O2 saturation and documenting findings in patient record and notifying RN immediately of abnormal results, drawing intravenous or capillary blood from newborn through geriatric aged patients using proper aseptic collection techniques, assuring appropriate labeling and processing of specimens to expedite throughput of patients, performing venipuncture for laboratory tests, demonstrating a reliable and dependable ability to follow through with designated responsibilities in the collecting, labeling, and transporting of specimens to the proper area at the appropriate time, performing EKG for patients as directed, assuring the presence, functionality and cleanliness of all necessary equipment, checking and maintaining code cart, O2, and other emergency medical equipment as directed, applying bandages, slings, compression boots and hypothermia blankets according to standard as directed by RN, assisting in the transport of patient to departments or units upon request, assisting with preparation as necessary assuring the patient is assisted with meals/ or fed as needed, checking inventory of assigned area and restocking as directed, ensuring room environment is prepared for admission, providing direct hygiene and comfort care to patients including bathing, toileting, oral hygiene, incontinent care, and bed making, assisting the patients with dressing/undressing and placing patient belongings in the appropriate bag labeled with completed property checklist. Monitoring the return of clothing to family of patient, performing and documenting glucose finger sticks and collecting other specimens as directed, providing post mortem care, obtaining and documenting patient weights and observing and documenting patient's intake and output, providing a safe patient environment by answering call lights promptly, communicating with the RN immediately for any change in the patient's condition, identifying the needs of the patient population served and modifying and delivering care that is specific to those needs not limited to (i.e., age, culture, language, hearing and/or visually impaired, etc.). This process includes communicating with the patient, parent, and/or primary caregiver(s) at their level (developmental/age, educational, literacy, etc.)

Education, knowledge, skills and abilities required include a high school diploma, general equivalency diploma (GED), and/or GED equivalent programs. Completion of one of the following: - Certified Nursing Assistant, Medical Assistant or Patient Care Technician program or - Fundamentals of Nursing program from an accredited school of nursing or - HMH PCT Apprenticeship Program - Or equivalent medical background experience, such as EMT, Home Health Aide, CMA, MA, PCT, Nursing Assistant. The ability to learn quickly and adapt to changing patient needs, a strong sense of accountability for improving the lives of our patients and their caregivers, an exceptional focus on teamwork, dedication to ongoing education and the ability and passion to deliver the highest quality of care and service based on a strong sense of patient focus are all required.

Education, knowledge, skills and abilities preferred include experienced or certified in phlebotomy and checking EKG, vital signs and blood sugar preferred, at least one (1) year PCT or CNA experience in a hospital setting strongly preferred or eligible for the HMH PCT apprentice program. Certified Nursing Assistant, Certified Medical Assistant or Patient Care Technician who has successfully completed a PCT program which includes Phlebotomy, EKG and nursing assistant course both in the theoretical and clinical setting.

Licenses and certifications required include AHA Basic Health Care Life Support HCP Certification within 60 days of entering position.

Compensation is minimum rate of $20.32 hourly. Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH) is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, breastfeeding, genetic information, refusal to submit to a genetic test or make available to an employer the results of a genetic test, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, national origin, disability, marital status, liability for military service, or status as a protected veteran.