Patient Care Assistant II - Float Pool BWFH

Essential Functions

• 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.
• 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.
• Efficiently organizes time and prioritizes patient care needs.
• 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.
• 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.
• Accurately collects and records patient data (vital signs, intake and output, blood sugar, weights, restraint care/monitoring, other) and complies with hospital documentation standards.
• Maintains and fosters a teamwork approach to patient care.
• 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, 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.
• Complies with established practice standards, policies, procedures, protocols, guidelines, and regulations.
• Maintains and demonstrates compliance with hospital, nursing and unit specific competencies and care standards.
• Assists in the orientation of new patient care assistants and serves as a resource to float staff.
• 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.
• Completes patient care, as assigned by the licensed nurse, according to hospital policy and procedure.
• Assisting with admission, discharge, and transfer of patients.
• Transporting patients and their belongings and their equipment and supplies, as needed.
• Providing personal care to patients including, bathing and skin care, shaving, mouth care, grooming, perineal care and changing linens.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Responding promptly and courteously to all patient call lights and patient requests.
• Maintaining patient rooms in an orderly and clean manner and stocking patient rooms, with needed supplies and equipment.
• Making routine room rounds to un-clutter, clean and organize patient rooms/areas.
• Checking inventories and restocking/replacing/assembling patient equipment and supplies.
• Disposing of trash, soiled linens, medical waste and disposable items, appropriately.
• Initiating and performing spot and spill cleaning, as needed.
• Performing regular checks per policy and procedure to ensure that equipment is operating properly and has current safety inspections/expiration dates.
• Identifying broken/expired equipment/supplies, removing from service and notifying Charge RN/Staff Nurse.
• Performing initial cleaning/decontamination of equipment/materials.
• Identifying emergency/crisis situations and initiating appropriate response actions, within the scope of her/his role.