Nursing Assistant / Patient Care Technician - Trauma Units at UPMC Presbyterian

Are you looking to establish a fulfilling, hands-on health care career while elevating the patient experience? As a Nursing Assistant or Patient Care Technician with UPMC Presbyterian, you’ll make a meaningful difference on our team by working with our Life Changers to provide high-quality patient care. 

The Trauma Service Line at UPMC Presbyterian is a dynamic service supporting the hospital’s Comprehensive Stroke Certification as well as the Level 1 Trauma designation. The units in this service line include: 7G, 9G, and 12D. 

• 7G Trauma is a 13-bed surgical step-down unit with private rooms, serving general surgical patients as well as trauma and toxicological patients
• 9G Trauma is a 24-bed trauma and general surgical unit that also receives overflow orthopedic trauma and neurological trauma patients
• 12D Trauma is a 23-bed surgical unit serving general surgical patients as well as toxicological and trauma patients. In addition to the broad variety of post-op patients we care for, we also receive overflow vascular and medical patients. 

Nursing Support roles are required to work rotating shifts, which include daylight, evening, overnight, weekend, and holiday shifts. Nursing Assistants and Patient Care Technicians will also be required to work 12-hour shifts, with a possibility of a combination of 8-hour and 12-hour shifts.

All hired candidates without direct patient care experience will complete a mandatory training during their first week of employment.  This training is weekdays during daylight hours.

The Nursing Assistants and Patient Care Technicians provide routine patient care and support the department services in accordance with established policies and procedures. This role will be directed by nurses and/or physicians to ensure that the highest degree of quality patient care can be maintained at all times. Patient care duties may include, but are not limited to, ADLs (bathing, feeding, transporting, toileting, ambulating, turning and repositioning patients, and blood glucose), vital signs, simple dressings, EKGs, bladder scans, and all specimen collections.

Responsibilities:

• Must routinely perform the UPMC nursing core nursing assistant responsibilities, including ADLs (bathing, feeding, transporting, toileting, ambulating, and turning and repositioning patients), PLUS point of care testing (inc. blood glucose), weights, vital signs, I&O, telemetry monitor application/reapplication, HAC & PSI prevention (TEDs/SCDs), and clean catch/mini catheter urine collection. In addition, simple dressings, 12 lead EKG, bladder scan, all specimen collections.
• Ensures equipment malfunctions are reported to the appropriate department.
• Establishes professional and respectful interpersonal relationships.
• Contributes to the universal unit activities including, but not limited to, responding to call lights and telephones, passing meal trays, and transporting patients.
• Demonstrates the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with all members of the health care team.
• Demonstrate understanding of cultural diversity, horizontal violence, and impairment in the health professions.
• Cares for patients and self by supporting safety in the workplace.
• Develops and maintains productive working relationships internally and externally by demonstrating accountability for actions, enthusiasm, motivation, and commitment to patients and colleagues.
• Provides patient care, including assisting with patient procedures and activities of daily living.
• Assists with physical, respiratory, and cardiopulmonary therapies.
• Provides feedback to the RN regarding patient care and reports changes in patient status.
• Provides instruction to patients and their families under the direction of the RN.
• May apply, monitor, and remove patient restraints as per physician or hospital protocol.
• Strictly adheres to all policies and procedures relative to patient care and hospital-related information.
• Complies with safety policies and procedures, including standard precautions.
• Documents in the medical record according to established procedures.
• Performs assigned work in a timely and productive manner.
• Completes department clerical functions, as needed.

Nursing Support Career Ladder

Our goal at UPMC is to help you build YOUR career, starting with our robust career ladder! A Nursing Support career at UPMC Presbyterian maximizes your potential and advances you to wherever you’d like to go, ensuring that you are equipped with resources, mentors, and leadership along the way. Our career ladder includes Nursing Assistant > Patient Care Technician > Patient Care Technician, Senior/Specialist > Lead Patient Care Technician.

Job title and salary will be based upon qualifications and career ladder requirements.

Qualifications:

• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• Successful completion of UPMC Nursing Assistant, or Patient Care Technician, or EIC training program.
• Knowledge of body mechanics and transfer techniques.
• Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing.
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), or Paramedic, or current enrollment in an EMT or Paramedic program preferred.
• Access to medications is limited to the distribution of the medication to the nurse.