Patient Care Technician - KU MedWest Ambulatory Surgery

POSITION TITLE:  Patient Care Technician (PCT)/ Nurse Tech (NT)/ Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

FACILITY/DEPARTMENT: Nursing             

Position reports to: Clinical Nurse Manager

Position supervises: none

Degree of Supervision Provided to Position: Must be self-directed and work under direction of the Clinical

                                                                            Nurse Manager

Interpersonal Relationships:  As a representative of this facility, all comments, attitudes, actions, and behaviors have a direct effect on the facility’s image and perceptions of quality service. Interaction with patients, families, physicians, referral sources, affiliating schools, visitors, teammates, managers, vendors, etc. must be in a manner that is friendly, supportive, courteous, respectful, cooperative, and professional. This behavior should promote an atmosphere of teamwork, which is congruent with center standards and guidelines to promote positive relations. 

Licenses or Certifications: none required

Education, vocational training, and experience:

• High School Graduate or equivalent
• One year of medical assistant/nursing assistant/patient care technician preferred.
• Successful completion of Basic Life Support (BLS) course within 90 days from employment or documentation of current BLS certification.
• Knowledge of medical terminology

Duties/Responsibilities:

1. Comply with the facility policies and procedures.
2. Function as an assistive person by:
1. Protecting the patient from injury caused by extraneous objects and chemical, electrical, mechanical and thermal sources.
2. Demonstrating safe operation of equipment machinery and follows procedures for reporting and correcting an unsafe situation.
3. Speaking up with safety concerns acting as the patient’s advocate.
4. Handling specimens according to facility policy and procedures
5. Adhering to standard precautions including the use of personal protective equipment.
6. Performing interventions to protect the patient from infection.
7. Assembling supplies and equipment;
8. Assuming an active role in assisting patient with care needs;
9. Proactively optimizes opportunities to enhance flow and efficiency of the center;
10. Orienting patient to environment;
11. Maintaining patient normothermia;
12. Assisting with patient transfers;
13. Assisting throughout the facility in environmental cleaning;
14. Protecting the patient’s rights, dignity, and privacy
15. Providing age-specific , culturally competent, ethical care within legal standards of practice.
16. Complying with Universal Protocol and facility site validation and time-out policy.

1. Notifying the RN of any observed changes in patient’s status and responses.
2. Provide hand-off report to other teammates that are accurate, concise and pertinent to the patient’s condition and response to care.
3. Document the episode of care accurately, timely, completely, and legibly.
4. Monitor vital signs and recognize emergencies and notify the Registered Nurse.
5. Clean and prepare equipment according to manufacturer’s instructions for use.
6. Demonstrate effective communication and collaboration skills with members of the team and other stakeholders.
7. Serve as a member of a multidisciplinary team in patient care.
8. Participate in quality review and performance improvement projects.
9. Participate in the performance appraisal process.
10. Use problem-solving and conflict resolution skills to foster effective work relationships.
11. Maintain required competencies.
12. Pursue professional growth
13. Act as a patient advocate and maintain privacy and confidentiality of individuals and health information.
14. Comply with all facility policies and procedures, regulatory and accreditation standards and professional guidelines when providing patient care.
15. Actively participate in team meetings, training and daily safety huddles.
16. Demonstrate fiscal responsibility.
17. Perform other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements:

• Physically demanding, high-stress environment 
• Exposure to blood and body fluids, communicable diseases, chemicals, radiation, and repetitive motions 
• Pushing and pulling heavy objects  
• Full range of body motion including handling and lifting patients and equipment 
• Manual and finger dexterity  
• Hand eye coordination 
• Standing and walking for extensive periods of time  
• Lifting and carrying items weighing up to 50 lbs. 
• Corrected vision and hearing to within normal range 
• Working irregular hours