Patient Care Tech - Medical Surgical

Patient Care Tech - Medical Surgical

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) reports to the Nurse Manager. Under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse, the PCT performs multi-skilled activities to support a decentralized patient-centered approach to patient care and achieve desired outcomes. A Patient Care Technician's responsibility includes measuring and documenting vital signs, assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs), and ensuring patient comfort and safety. PCT's also identify patient concerns and report them to their colleagues. A Patient Care Technician's duties also include moving, turning or relocating patients as required for their comfort and medical requirements.

An effective Patient Care Technician should have patience, empathy and intuition to serve their patients best. They also need good communication and organizational skills to interact with their Manager and Charge Nurse and communicate their issues to these Care Team Members.

Required License Certification and Registration : Basic Life Support required upon hire. Thereafter, must maintain current Basic Life Support (BLS), either a certification from an American Heart Association (AHA) BLS for Healthcare Providers (or AHA recognized equivalent) or an American Red Cross CPR / AED for Professional Rescuer and Healthcare Provider.

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements : A high school diploma or equivalent (GED) required. One year of patient care work experience in a health care facility or Certified Nursing Assistant is preferred.

Responsibilities :

• Keep patient rooms tidy and sanitized
• Assist patient with everyday needs (personal hygiene, using the restroom, grooming, etc.)
• Monitor vital signs (temperature, pulse etc.) or EKG signals and patient condition
• Assist nursing staff in administering basic treatments
• Ensure rooms have adequate patient care supplies, linen is clean
• Assist patients with particular issues or needs
• Provide appropriate emotional support
• Place patient on cardiac monitor
• Empty drains, ostomies, foley bags
• Perform blood sugar checks
• Assist with other duties assigned by the department leader

Physical Requirements : Ability to perform job functions while standing. Ability to perform job functions while sitting. Ability to perform job functions while walking. Ability to climb stairs. Ability to work indoors. Ability to work outside in temperature extremes. Ability to work from elevated areas. Ability to work in confined / cramped spaces. Ability to perform job functions from kneeling positions. Ability to bend at the waist. Ability to twist at the waist. Ability to squat and perform job functions. Ability to perform "pinching" operations. Ability to perform gross motor activities with fingers and hands. Ability to perform firm grasping with fingers and hands. Ability to perform fine manipulation with fingers and hands. Ability to reach overhead. Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands / wrists / elbows and shoulders. Ability to fully use both legs. Ability to use lower extremities for balance and coordination. Ability to reach in all directions. Ability to lift and carry 50 lbs. unassisted. Ability to lift / lower objects 50 lbs. from / to floor from / to 36 inches unassisted. Ability to lift from 36" to overhead 25 lbs. Ability to exert up to 50 lbs. of force. Examples include : To transfer a 100 lb. patient that cannot assist in the transfer requires 50 lbs. of force. For every 100 additional pounds, assistance will be required from another healthcare worker. 20 lbs. of force is needed to push a 400 lb. patient in a wheelchair on carpet. 25 lbs. of force is required to push a stretcher with a patient with one hand. Ability to maintain 20 / 40 vision, corrected, in one eye or with both eyes. Ability to see and recognize objects close at hand or at a distance. Ability to match or discriminate between colors. Ability to determine distance / relationship between objects; depth perception. Good peripheral vision capabilities. Ability to maintain hearing acuity, with correction. Ability to perform gross motor functions with frequent fine motor movements. Ability to deal effectively with stressful situations. Ability to work rotating shifts. Ability to work overtime as required. Ability to work in a latex safe environment. Ability to maintain tactile sensory functions. Ability to maintain good olfactory sensory function. Ability to be qualified physically for respirator use, initially and as required.

The Medical University of South Carolina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. MUSC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, age, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, family or parental status, or any other status protected by state laws and / or federal regulations. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment based upon applicable qualifications, merit and business need.