Certified Nursing Assistant

Patient Care Assistant II

The Patient Care Assistant II functions as a member of the patient care team, under the direction of the Registered Nurse (RN), and proficiently and consistently performs all aspects of the PCA role. The Patient Care Assistant II is responsible for supporting the RN with clinical tasks, including but not limited to blood glucose monitoring, completing EKGs, applying simple dressings, using aseptic technique and responding to medical emergency situations utilizing Heartsaver CPR and AED skills. In addition, the PCA II is responsible for responding to the needs of patients and family members and taking an active role in the efficient operation of the unit. The PCA II will also assure the practice of the Patient and Family Centered Care Model in an environment that exemplifies best practice.

Does this position require patient care? Yes

Essential Functions

Provision of a safe environment

• Anticipates and identifies patient safety risks, in cooperation with licensed nurse and takes appropriate action to reduce and/or eliminate the risks.
• Makes routine patient room rounds to address patient needs.
• Follows and maintains restraint policies, under the supervision of a licensed nurse.
• Provides 1:1 monitoring as a patient observer, for patients at risk for injury.
• Follows established hospital infection control and safety procedures.
• Utilizes proper body mechanics in moving and assisting patients, to prevent personal injury.

Organizational ethics

• Maintains and promotes an atmosphere which reflects the mission and values of the organization.
• Respects and supports a culturally diverse staff and patient population.
• Delivers care in a non-judgmental, non-discriminatory manner that is sensitive to and demonstrates respect for patient diversity.
• Respects and maintains the confidentiality and privacy of patient, employee and hospital information at all times.
• Works cooperatively with all staff members and takes appropriate steps to resolve interpersonal conflicts.
• Dresses appropriately and according to dress code requirements, including wearing visible hospital I.D. badge that identifies self, as a Patient Care Assistant.

Management of resources

• Efficiently organizes time and prioritizes patient care needs. Works with other patient care assistants, when possible to facilitate patient care.
• Provides assistance to co-workers, as requested.
• Adapts to changing patient and unit needs including but not limited to: offering assistance to other team members, floating, adjusting assignments, etc.
• Communicates with Charge Nurse/Nursing Supervisor to coordinate break periods with unit activities. Maintains visibility on the unit and does not leave work area, without appropriate notification to the Charge Nurse/Staff Nurse.

Management of information

• Reviews and is knowledgeable of appropriate policies, procedures and work rules.
• Demonstrates an understanding of hospital emergency codes and how to call a code.
• Utilizes hospital E-mail to access staff meeting minutes, notices and memos.
• Reads and reviews meeting minutes and clinical updates.
• Participates in staff meetings and appropriate in-services.
• Maintains timely ongoing verbal communication with RN throughout the shift, regarding patient condition including, the status of completing delegated tasks. Recognizes and notifies RN immediately of any significant change in a patient's condition and/or monitoring alarms (for example: change in vital signs, change in patient's mental status, complaints of pain, abnormal blood sugar, patient fall or other injury, patient concerns with care).
• Accurately collects and records patient data (vital signs, intake and output, blood sugar, weights, restraint care/monitoring, other) and complies with hospital documentation standards to ensure a complete and accurate patient record.

Collaborative interdisciplinary

• Maintains and fosters a teamwork approach to patient care.

Patient/family education

• Addresses patient comfort and information needs by providing informative, nonclinical information to patients and families, orienting patients/visitors to the hospital, unit, patient room services, distributing patient mail/flowers, arranging room to ensure necessary personal care items are available & accessible (includes call lights), distributing nourishments, changing linens & clothing, refilling ice packs, running patient errands or other duties, as assigned by the RN.
• In collaboration with the licensed nurse, reinforces the patient education provided by the nurse and provides patients/families with basic patient care instruction, such as instruction for using the call light, positioning, transferring, walking, toileting and feeding.

Competency

• Complies with established practice standards, policies, procedures, protocols, guidelines, and regulations, (for example: DPH, JCAHO, Boston fire codes, OSHA).
• Maintains and demonstrates compliance with hospital, nursing and unit specific competencies and care standards. Maintains competence in relation to a variety of technical skills that may include, but are not limited to: application of external monitors, use of the CPM machine, performing EKGs and blood glucose monitoring, applying simple dressings and Heartsaver CPR and AED skills.
• Assists in the orientation of new patient care assistants and serves as a resource to float staff.

Quality improvement

• Participates in hospital wide and unit based SEAQ programs and activities, as indicated.
• Communicates any concerns related to quality patient care to the Nursing Director or Nurse Director, Clinical Leader and/or Nursing Supervisor.

Patient care

• Completes patient care, as assigned by the licensed nurse, according to hospital policy and procedure. Patient care includes:
• Assisting with admission, discharge, and transfer of patients. Preparing room for admission and ensuring patients have appropriate identification bands upon admission and throughout their hospitalization.
• Transporting patients and their belongings and their equipment and supplies, as needed and as part of the transfer/discharge process.
• Providing personal care to patients including, bathing and skin care, shaving, mouth care, grooming, perineal care and changing linens, as per hospital protocols.
• Providing basic skin care including but not limited to: back rubs, routine diabetic foot care, application of non-medicated ointments, application of elastic stockings, ace wraps, and compression boots, turning and repositioning patients every two hours, and other associated tasks.
• Assisting the patient with elimination including, care of a urinary and condom catheter, use of bedpan, commode, toileting schedules, emptying colostomy bags, urinals and urinary drainage bags.
• Carrying out planned patient care measures that provide patient comfort and pain relief such as, coordinating care to provide rest periods, minimizing noise, assisting in bed positioning.
• Providing 1:1 monitoring as a patient observer, for patients at risk for injury and also providing the duties of the PCA II for the assigned patient.
• Performing simple dressing changes, using aseptic technique.
• Assisting nurse/health team members during simple and complex treatments or procedures.
• Setting up patients for meals and assisting them with feeding and opening food containers, maintaining calorie counts and recording intake/output measures (I and Os).
• Taking patient vital signs, completing intake and output data and daily weights accurately and documenting results completely.
• Performing EKGs as directed and according to Hospital and Nursing Department Policy and Procedure.
• Performing blood glucose monitoring as directed and according to Hospital and Nursing Department Policy and Procedure.
• Documenting patient information in a timely, accurate and complete manner, on patient flow sheets.
• Providing end of life care, including comfort measures only and post mortem care.
• Collecting, labeling, and sending/transporting specimens to the lab with the appropriate lab slips/requisitions attached.
• Initiating patient belongings tracking form and properly securing patient belongings in accordance with hospital policy and in conjunction with the RN. Consults with RN, if patient declines to secure their belongings or have their belongings sent home with family member or friend.
• Responding promptly and courteously to all patient call lights and patient requests and seeking assistance from co-workers, as appropriate.
• Maintaining patient rooms in an orderly and clean manner and stocking patient rooms, with needed supplies and equipment.