Patient Care Technician, Surgical Acute Care

FULL TIME DAY SHIFT PCT/CNA  7A-7:30P, Every other weekend rotation

Located within the University of Maryland Medical Center's Downtown Campus, the Surgical Acute Care Unit is a 24-bed medical-surgical unit dedicated to supporting patients through their postoperative recovery with skill, compassion, and excellence.

Scope of service includes but is not limited to:

• continuous cardiac monitoring
• continuous oxygen saturations
• drain management. 

Patients are admitted following surgical procedures via intra-hospital transfer from:

• IMC
• ICU
• PACU
• Direct admissions through Express Care/Critical Care Resuscitation Unit (CCRU).  

The Surgical Acute Care unit serves as the primary postoperative designation for the following specialty surgical services, including but not limiting to:

• Surgical Oncology
• Gynecology Neoplasia
• Urology
• Acute Care Emergency Surgery
• General Surgery which includes the bariatric surgery patients

The University of Maryland Medical System is a 14-hospital system with academic, community and specialty medical services reaching every part of Maryland and beyond. UMMS is a national and regional referral center for trauma, cancer care, Neurocare, cardiac care, women’s and children’s health and physical rehabilitation. UMMS is the fourth largest private employer in the Baltimore metropolitan area and one of the top 20 employers in the state of Maryland. No organization will give you the clinical variety, the support, or the opportunities for professional growth that you’ll enjoy as a member of our team.

General Summary

Under the supervision of professional nursing staff, team members provide direct, hands-on patient care—taking vital signs, monitoring surgical dressings, assisting with daily living activities, performing blood draws, and collecting specimen samples.

Staff on this unit play a vital role in observing and gathering patient data, helping identify changing needs, and delivering timely, personalized care. As integral members of the interdisciplinary patient care services team, they support a collaborative and holistic approach to healing.

 In the Surgical Acute Unit, Patient Care Technicians and Nurses work hand-in-hand, united by a shared devotion to compassionate care. Their teamwork and commitment create an environment where patients feel truly supported, and colleagues feel empowered to deliver exceptional outcomes together.

Principal Responsibilities and Tasks

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the person assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.

1. Performs testing and manages the care of the patient based on results achieved and clinical findings.
2. Records patient care along the continuum, including activities of daily living (ADLs): feeding, bathing, dressing, toileting and transferring.
3. Completes, documents and reports patient vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, pulse, respiration, oxygen saturation and reported pain level).
4. Assists in admission, transfer and discharge of patients.
5. Participates in cost effective strategies to optimize patient outcomes.
6. Promotes patient safety including fall prevention. Ensures the safety of the clinical environment for patients, visitors, and other staff members.
7. Maintains order and appearance of patient rooms and work area. Maintains patient care supplies and linen.
8. Provides post-mortem care.
9. Collaborates with members of the health care team to carry out the plan of care, including reporting observed changes in patients’ condition.
10. Ensure patient comfort relative to their pain status.
11. Measures and documents dietary intake and patient urinary and stool output. Documents calorie count. Measures and documents patient weight.
12. Conducts indwelling urinary catheter care. Applies, maintains and removes external urinary catheter devices. 
13. Conducts blood glucose monitoring.
14. Provides wound care to promote healing and maintain structural integrity of the skin. Performs skin care and hygiene and reports impaired skin integrity and/or wound impairment. Assists with appropriate strategies and/or treatment measures to provide wound care.
15. Assists with collection of patient specimens for laboratory testing. Incorporates proper techniques for patient identification, method for collection of appropriate specimen(s) and documentation.
16. Provides orthopedic/rehab device care: e.g. braces, splints, CPM.  Dons/doffs compression wraps/stockings.
17. Participates in hourly patient rounding in collaboration with the health care team.
18. Responds to patient triggered alarms, including call light, chair alarm, bed alarm, tele-sitter alarm, etc.
19. Complies with the The Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals within scope of practice.
20. Detects, reports, and acts to avoid or correct safety risks.  Reports adverse events and near misses to appropriate management authority. 
21. Provides professional vigilance to assigned patients, including when assigned as a patient safety companion.
22. Incorporates safe lifting techniques and body mechanics in daily practice.         
23. Improves patient flow and prevents care delays.
24. Performs other duties as assigned.

Education & Experience

1. High school diploma or equivalent required.
2. Current Maryland state certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or Geriatric Nursing Assistant (GNA) required.   
3. No previous experience required; previous direct patient care experience in a health care facility preferred.
4. Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

1. Able to effectively communicate using verbal and written skills. 
2. Maintain interpersonal relationships and use teamwork skills to provide care along with other team members in a cohesive manner.
3. Ability to organize work priorities, perform several duties simultaneously and function in stressful situations.
4. Ability to learn and use computer systems
5. Demonstrates proper technique and skills needed for obtaining accurate blood glucose results and documenting findings.
6. Demonstrates the ability to perform delegated nursing tasks according to the age, culture, ethnicity, spirituality, and individual diagnostic needs of the persons served.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Compensation

• Pay Range: $17.17-$24.76
• Other Compensation (if applicable): 
• Review the 2025-2026 UMMS Benefits Guide

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