Patient Care Assistant-PACU Room

Four 10-hour shifts, Monday-Friday, varying days/hours between 7:00am and 8:30pm.
45 minute response time required while on call.

On call hours required in addition to the FTE for weekends and 1-2 holidays.
Benefits eligible. Non-exempt. 

Must be willing to work Monday through Friday as scheduled. Students must be able to commit to hours as hired.

Pay starts at $19 an hour + based on experience.

The Patient Care Assistant is responsible for performing basic supportive care to specified patients/families under the direction and supervision of an RN/Care Manager. Collects, documents, and reports data to the RN Care Manager but does not interpret data. Demonstrates competence in providing age-appropriate care and service for pediatric patients from birth to 21 years, and selected adults.

The moment you walk through our doors, you feel it. When you meet our patient families, you believe it. And when you talk with anyone who works here, you want to be part of it. Welcome to Nationwide Children's Hospital, Where Passion Meets Purpose.

Here, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are integrated into our core values and practices. We are passionate about building, sustaining and evolving an inclusive and equitable environment. We are seeking individuals who live these values and want to share their experiences and efforts in support of our collective mission.

We're 14,000 strong. And it takes every one of us to improve the lives of the kids we care for, and the kids around the world we'll never meet. Kids who live healthier, fuller lives because of the knowledge we share. We know it takes a Collaborative Culture to deliver on our promise to provide the very best, innovative care and to foster new discoveries, made possible by the most groundbreaking research. Anywhere.

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Nationwide Children's Hospital. A Place to Be Proud.

Clinical:

1. Collects, documents, and reports the following data:

a. Vital signs Temperature (oral, axillary, rectal); pulse (apical and radial); respirations; blood pressure or mean arterial pressure using the non-invasive automatic blood pressure machine.

b. Heights, weights, head circumference and abdominal girth.

c. Oxygen saturation.

d. In the outpatient setting, completes screening questions, transcribing patient or families responses into the medical record such as: i. Allergies ii. Pain iii. Psychosocial iv. Cultural v. Nutrition

2. Provides basic supportive care:

a. Hygiene: (bath, shampoos, mouth care).

b. Bed making and keeping patient room clean and orderly

c. Nutrition: Oral feedings; gravity tube feedings (G-tube, OG or NG-- placement must be checked by a RN or LPN prior to initiation of feeding using an OG or NG tube). When using an enteral feeding pump, the Patient Care Assistant can fill the bag and prime the tubing. The LPN or RN must set the rate and initiate the feeding. Measures intake. Delivers and collects meal trays and record I & O, calorie counts.

d. Mobility: Assists with transfer (wheelchair, etc.) Ambulates patients.

e. Elimination: Assists with urinary catheter insertion. Performs peri-carefor patients with an indwelling urinary catheter per hospital policy. Empties catheter bag. Measures output (from catheter bag or collection device). Empties urine or stool.

f. Provides basic skin care and applies NCH approved over the counter skin products that provide a protective barrier to prevent skin breakdown.

g. Repositions patients and documents per NCH Skin Risk Protocol.

h. Performs constant attendant responsibilities for patients.

i. Cares for patients with restraints and documents observations per policy.

j. Promotes general patient safety.

k. Provides post mortem care.

3. Performs the following procedures:

a. Specimen collection: (urine for urinalysis and culture, stool for stool studies, sputum for culture, gastric drainage, blood by capillary puncture).

b. Specimen testing per unit policy.

c. Cast/traction/pin care.

d. Simple (clean/non-sterile) dressing changes: band aid, established G-tube site. Covers surgical wounds for shower

e. Provides established ostomy site care (change bag, clean site).

f. Holds, positions patient and assists with procedures (examples: IV insertion, lumbar puncture, chest tube insertion and removal).

g. Observes and reports appearance of peripheral IV site.

h. Gathers/opens/sets up supplies (including sterile trays) to assist RN/Care Manager and others.

i. Gathers tubing for both peripheral IVs and central venous catheters (does not include assembly, spiking bag or priming tubing).

j. Observes heat or cold applications: for example heating/cooling blanket, ice packs, heat lamp. Reports observations to RN.

k. Assists with prescribed respiratory therapy activities: oral and nasal bulb suctioning.

l. Assists patient to cough and deep breathe (ex: spirometer) and documents.

m. Assists with oxygen therapy: sets up tubing and nasal cannula/mask.

n. Attaches patients to the pulse oximeter according to policy.

o. Assists with prescribed physical therapy activities: (under direction of licensed physical therapist). Performs specific range of motion exercises.

p. Uses approved equipment safely and appropriately.

q. Transports patients to other departments/areas of the hospital (x-ray, MRI, etc) per hospital policy. The RN/Care Manager must assess the patient to determine the appropriate level of personnel to transport the patient.

4. Completes unit/room orientation; reinforces information give to patient and families.

5. Documents all data collected and care provided.

6. Accepts delegation from RN/Care Manager.

7. Demonstrates time and resource management.

8. Demonstrates appropriate use of hospital resources:

a. Incidental personal use of NCH information systems (including the telephone) is permissible so long as the usage does not interfere with job performance, does not deny other users access to the system resources, does not incur significant costs, and is allowed by the department head or manager.

b. Users may not use computing resources for their own personal or financial gain. Viewing materials that are obscene, objectionable or that put NCH at undue risk is prohibited unless it is a documented part of the user?s duties and approved by the manager or department head.

9. Follows hospital policies and procedures.

10. Follows HIPPA guidelines.

11. Participates in unit/program/area quality improvement activities.

12. Performs general unit tasks (answers phone, call lights, admission/discharge functions, etc.)

Environmental

1. Dusts surface areas on the unit/area.

2. Cleans the unit/area refrigerators (conference room and medication room).

3. Changes needle boxes.

4. Empties non-routine trash and linen bags.

5. Assists unit in maintaining Joint Commission readiness (keeping hallways clear, linen carts covered etc).

6. Completes unit specific environmental duties as assigned.

Educational:

1. Acts as a preceptor of orientation and training of other PCA staff.

2. Provides peer input for performance appraisals at the request of the manager or RN.

3. Identifies own learning needs, seeks assistance and attends educational programs as needed.

4. Attends annual/mandatory in-services within designation time frame.

5. Participates in educational activities offered by the unit/area/division.

Interpersonal:

1. Provides age-appropriate care (based on growth and development principles) to patients and families.

2. Participates as a member of the patient care team by assisting others.

3. Participates in unit conferences as requested.

4. Within role expectations, meets the standards of patient care and performs within the policies and procedures of Children's Hospital, Inc. and the Division of Patient Care Services.

5. Demonstrates promptness and consistency in meeting scheduled work commitments.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

1. High school graduate or equivalent GED.

2. State Tested Nursing Assistant strongly preferred OR one year of comparable experience in a hospital setting within the past 3 years. Nursing students can qualify if they have successfully completed the fundamentals of nursing course(s) of an approved college/school program and have completed two clinical rotations with the exception of Long Term Care or Psych.

3. Good written and verbal communication, interpersonal and problem-solving skills.

4. Basic computer skills i.e. navigation, use of mouse, keyboard

5. Neat appearance, good grooming and professional manner.

6. Completion of orientation classes offered by Nationwide Children's Hospital Department of Professional Development and the unit/area.

7. Must demonstrate competence as defined in the Patient Care Assistant responsibilities/skills checklist in providing age appropriate care and services to pediatric patients of all ages and selected adult patients.

8. Current CPR (BLS for Healthcare Provider required).

MINIMUM PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Must be able to see, hear, stand, walk, speak, read, and perform basic math calculations (add, subtract, multiply and divide), and perform manual tasks with or without accommodation, and care for oneself with little or no difficulty.

2. Applies the principles of body mechanics in lifting or moving patients and/or equipment.

3. Must be able to independently lift up to 35 pounds.

4. Must be able to move or reposition patients of any weight or size with the assistance of another person(s) and/or equipment.

The above list of duties is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this classification. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties performed by the individual so classified, nor is it intended to limit or modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision.

EOE M/F/Disability/Vet.