Patient Care Assistant

Provides compassionate personal care and support services under the supervision of a registered nurse that assists the patient in the achievement of physical and emotional comfort of healing. 

1. Provides all personal care services in accordance with the plan of treatment assigned by the registered nurse to include but not limited to:
2. Measure and record intake and output
3. Measure and record vital signs, O2 saturation, weight, height
4. Positioning patients: lifting and turning patients
5. Applying or utilizing special equipment
6. Assisting in the use of bedpan, urinal, commode
7. Ambulating the patient or assisting in the ambulation of the patient
8. Per-operative and post-operative care
9. Application/removal of anti-embolism stocking and SCD devices
10. Removal of foley catheters
11. Perineal care
12. Non-medicated enemas
13. Application of heat and cold
14. Care of the incontinent patient
15. Skin care to the immobilized patient
16. Emptying colostomy bags
17. Performing fingerstick blood sugars
18. Set up of oxygen per nasal cannula at 2L/min
19. Feeding patients, assisting with meal set up
20. Collecting, labeling, transporting of lab specimens

1. Accurately documents care provided according to policies and procedures
2. Consistently performs basic care requirements such as rounding, use of AIDET, applying the “4 Ps” (Pain, position, potty, and proximity of items): prompt response to patient needs: performance of hand hygiene: use of two patient identifiers, etc.
3. Participates in economical utilization of supplies and ensures that equipment and nursing units are maintained in a clean/safe manner
4. Applies safety principles when performing care such as ambulation of patients, transferring patients, assisting with normal range of motion and positioning.
5. Assists in Performance Improvement (PI) activities by serving on PI teams when warranted, assisting with PT measures and supporting and implementing changes necessary for improvement.
6. Maintains well organized, well supplied, clean nursing unit
7. Maintains statistics/logs as required by the unit Manager/director

DCH Standards:

• Maintains performance, patient and employee satisfaction and financial standards as outlined in the performance evaluation.
• Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook
• Must adhere to the DCH Behavioral Standards including creating positive relationships with patients/families, coworkers, colleagues and with self.
• Requires use of electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software and intranet.
• Must adhere to all DCH Health System policies and procedures.
• All other duties as assigned.

Approved previous experience in giving patient care of completion of in-service education classes required.  Candidates with patient care experience, those currently enrolled in a nursing program or those with prior customer service experience are preferred. Must be able to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English. 

PHYSICAL FACTORS 

Physical presence in site is essential.  Hearing and vision must be normal or corrected within normal range.  Able to perform duties with or without reasonable accommodation.  Ability to tolerate prolonged periods of standing and walking.  Ability to lift or carry 50 pounds with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds.  Is able to push stretcher/wheelchair with average adult patient.  Is able to do frequent stooping and on occasion crouching, crawling or kneeling.  Ability to reach reasonable distances in any direction.  Ability to  run in emergency situations.  Must be able to move dingers in a coordinated manner.  Must have ability to feel and perceive temperature, texture, shape and size with fingertips. 

Environmental

Includes exposure to body fluids, disease, infection, lab chemicals and hazard materials and/or cleaning solutions.  Requires wearing common protective or safety equipment.