Patient Care Assistant - 5W Cardiothoracic Surgery ICU - Per Diem 12 Hour Days (Non-Exempt) (Union)

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) provides nursing staff support in the areas of patient care delivery, clerical functions, and organization of the unit environment, as well as set-up and maintenance of equipment.

The emphasis on each of these areas will depend on the unit assigned

Essential Duties :

• Patient Satisfaction :
• Responds to patient call within 10 minutes.
• Anticipates pts needs
• Proactively makes rounds to reduce patient calls
• Maintains positive behaviors toward patients and visitors
• Smiles and is pleasant during all interactions
• Provides RN with necessary data related to patient assessment.
• Contributes input into the patient's plan of care and accurately implements interventions on the patient's plan of care, in collaboration with the RN.
• Performs essential skills which contribute to positive patient outcomes per routing, MD orders, and RN direction
• Vitals
• Daily weight
• I & O
• Hygiene : bath, peri-care, oral care, HS care, hair care
• Maintains clear and organized patient rooms
• Assist with meals / feeding
• Ambulation / mobility; turn bed patients every 2 hours, transfers from bed to chair
• Provides fresh water at beginning and end of shift and prn
• Appropriately prioritizes patient needs
• Safety :
• Ensures safe physical environment and ensures safe operation of patient-care equipment
• Call light / telephone with reach
• Floors clear of fall hazards
• Maintains uncluttered and easy access to bathroom, ambulation, and emergency equipment.
• Commodes
• Walkers
• Shower chairs
• IV poles
• Beds
• Tables / Chairs
• Documentation
• Documents all care provided, including vital signs, intake and output, meal percentages, equipment used, and patient care.
• Communication :
• Makes presence known before entering a room or private area
• Identifies / introduces self to patient and visitors
• Explains plan of care to the patient
• Does not engage in inappropriate discussions regarding other patients and unit operations
• Knows and utilizes all computerized systems to send messages, document care, and communicate patient / unit needs to various departments.
• Knows and follows line of communication within the department.
• Reports to RN / Charge Nurse pertinent information / significant change in patient condition / patient and family concerns and patient refusal of care in a timely manner.
• Reports to RN / Charge Nurse patient's inability to perform self-care and describes actions taken which were ineffective.
• Actively collaborates with the RN at the beginning and throughout the shift regarding patient care and data collection.
• Regulatory agency i.e. :
• Ensures that the unit is in continuous survey readiness
• No food / drink in nurses station
• No open containers in patient pantry
• No outside food in patient refrigerator
• No boxes etc. or floor
• Staff refrigerator kept clean
• Linens covered at all times
• Keep fire door closed
• Maintain clean / tidy nurses station, locker room, pantry
• Maintain patient confidentiality
• Ensures confidentiality of patient records and other written information
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications :

• Req High school or equivalent
• Req Specialized / technical training Graduate from an accredited Certified Nursing Program. (*Grandfathered from CNA Certification requirement, if hired / transferred prior to 8 / 2016.)
• Req Ability to communicate effectively in English both verbally and in writing.

Preferred Qualifications :

Pref 1 year Experience in a health care setting

Required Licenses / Certifications :

• Req Certified Nursing Assistant (CA DPH) *Grandfathered from CNA Certification requirement, if hired / transferred prior to 8 / 2016.
• Req Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Provider from American Heart Association
• Req Fire Life Safety Training (LA City) If no card upon hire, one must be obtained within 30 days of hire and maintained by renewal before expiration date.

Required within LA City only)

The hourly rate range for this position is $18.20 - $30.97. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education / training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.