Patient Care Technician | CICU

About the Role

The Patient Care Technician in collaboration with the multidisciplinary health care delivery team, under the direction of the Registered Nurse perform basic nursing care activities, assist in maintaining a safe, clean, stocked patient care setting, assisting staff members and help direct patient flow.

Functional Accountabilities

Patient Services – Admission

• Orient family to use of call lights, monitor and unit
• Set up of monitor and alarms
• Perform vital signs, height, weight and head circumference

Patient Services – Daily Living

• Patient ADL's include but not limited to daily bath, skin care with mouth care and peri-care
• Ensure proper nutrition as ordered (ng, gt, or tray)
• Care of tube feeding and feeding of patients
• Application of skin creams as directed by RN
• Collection of cultures, urine and stool samples, etc.

Direct Patient Care

• Recognize and report pain and skin breakdown
• Prioritize tasks and special requests from RN
• Assist in performance of trach care and EVDs
• Assist with central line dressing, pin care, cast and traction care and care for dying patients
• Assist with preparation of room for discharge and admission; assist with patient flow by maintaining a neat and orderly environment
• Obtain equipment and supplies and maintain PAR levels

Monitor Surveillance

• Observe and alert RN when there are monitor deviations
• When assigned to monitor bank will follow the monitor guidelines to dress code and professionalism

Infection Control

• Care for isolation patients
• Adherence to hand washing before and after every patient
• Clean equipment after each patient's use

Documentation

Document on nursing database, flow sheets and vital signs in a timely manner and notify appropriate charge nurse in computer or chart as suitable.

Communication/Professionalism

• Communicate effectively with RN and team members to achieve goals by reporting any changes, abnormal findings, and participate in beginning and end of shift reporting
• Maintain professional relationships with patients and families
• Resolve conflict with co-workers appropriately
• Support a family-centered care environment
• Communicate with RN on all patient care activities at least every hour; notify charge nurse when leaving and returning to the unit for any reason

Shared Leadership

• Keep informed about council meetings and unit issues
• Participate in shared decision making through contributing to unit discussion and support shared leadership decisions

Safety

• Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance
• Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation
• Stop in the face of uncertainty and take time to resolve the situation
• Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication
• Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers
• Attend carefully to important details – practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self-check behavior and performance