Patient Care Assistant - Trauma Surgical Unit

Overview

Our Trauma Surgical Unit is primarily home to our acute care trauma and surgical patient population. This unit's staff are experts in trauma but also ortho and urology patients as this unit will provide care to this population as well. This unit values collaboration with family practice physicians, hospitalists, as well as a variety of surgical specialists while proudly providing individualized attention to all patients who are hospitalized for illness, surgery, or testing and observation.

Patient care assistants are an essential part of the patient care team providing daily care and emotional support to patients when they need it most. By observing patients carefully, they are the eyes and ears of our clinical staff, making sure our healthcare team has everything they need to assist with the healing journey of our patients and their families.

• Provide compassionate personal care and support services under the supervision of a registered nurse or LPN. Collaborates with nurses, physicians and other healthcare providers to oversee and monitor patients to support healing.
• Receive RN report at start of shift
• Walking rounds and shift report with off going PCA to ensure patients clean and dry; rooms clean
• Apply cardiac monitoring and change all cardiac monitor batteries as scheduled
• Document patient bedside rounds every 2 hours
• Conduct 4 P’s on every round:
  Pain, Position, Potty, Perimeter
• Document patient vital signs every 4 hours (or as ordered)
• Daily Glucometer QC (Night shift)
• Bathe patients daily (adjust for patients with central lines)
• Replace EKG pads (cardiac monitor) daily with baths
• Daily linen change
• Assist patient with Activities of Daily Living (ADL) — e.g., brushing/mouth care, feeding, toileting, etc.
• Obtain blood sugars on all diabetic patients and document
• Stock isolation caddies in halls and rooms for the next shift
• Keep patient rooms clean and free from clutter
• Empty trash from assigned rooms as needed and prior to change of shift
• Answer call lights in a timely manner
• Initiate or continue pressure ulcer bundle (consult with RN for Braden scores)
• Turn/Reposition patients every 2 hours in bed or chair
• Initiate or continue Fall Prevention protocol
• Weigh all patients on admission and every Wednesday at 5am (standing scale preferred)
• Prepare rooms for admission (admission bucket-bath basin, soap, Kleenex, water pitcher, etc.)
• Update patient whiteboards daily
• Daily bath on night shift for dialysis / pre-procedural patients
• Fresh ice provided at 1700/0500 for start of next shift
• Vital sign machines wiped down and stocked for next shift
• Assist in orientation of new staff
• Other duties as assigned
• Measure and record intake/output
• Accurately documents care provided according to policies and procedures
• Apply safety principles when performing care including ambulation, transfers, ROM, positioning, and fall prevention
• Participates in cost saving utilization of supplies

• Maintains performance, patient and employee satisfaction and financial standards as outlined in the performance evaluation.
• Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook
• Adheres to the organization’s Behavioral Standards and safety policies
• Performs essential job functions in a manner that ensures the safety of patients, visitors and employees
• Identifies and reduces unsafe practices that may result in harm to patients, visitors and employees
• Recognizes and takes appropriate action to reduce risks and hazards to promote safety
• Requires use of electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software and intranet
• Adheres to all health system policies and procedures
• All other duties as assigned

• Approved previous experience in giving patient care or completion of in-service education classes
• High school education or equivalent
• Must be able to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English
• BLS required or achieved within first 90 days of employment

• Physical - Physical presence onsite 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 and carry 50 pounds with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds. Able to push stretcher/wheelchair with average adult patient.
  
  Frequent bending, stooping, crouching, crawling or kneeling. Ability to reach in all directions. Ability to run in emergency situations. Fine motor skills to manipulate small objects and tools.
• Environmental - Exposure to body fluids, disease, infection, lab chemicals and hazard materials and/or cleaning solutions. Requires wearing protective equipment.
• Psychological - Works with teams, addresses conflicts, and communicates with diverse personalities.