Patient Care Assistant

At Houston Methodist the Patient Care Assistant (PCA) position is responsible for functioning as novice to competent and demonstrates basic knowledge and skills necessary to communicate appropriately and carry out delegated nursing assistant level tasks for assigned agespecific diverse patient population assisting in the delivery of patient care and services under the supervision of a licensed nurse. This position conducts hourly rounding to ensure patient needs are met and records data established by policy and procedure and reports observations and patient problems to the licensed nurse. The PCA position performs basic patient care activities of daily living (ADLs) within unitspecific defined limits and job scope such as assistance with patient elimination hygiene comfort safety nutrition and progress activity and practices Patient and Family Centered Care in concert with Houston Methodist ICARE values.

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Promotes a positive work environment with the interprofessional care team. Participates in teamwork by responding positively to requests for assistance. Works well with others to make contributions to the work effort as a whole and facilitates problem resolution.

• Interacts with peers staff and physicians in a supportive and respectful manner. Encourages open communication to achieve mutual understanding. Communication to promote both work efforts and problem resolution is clear and professional. Collaborates with all members of the interprofessional team by actively communicating and reporting pertinent patient care information in a clear and timely manner.

• Conducts self in a manner that is congruent with cultural diversity equity and inclusion principles. Provides contributions towards improvement of department scores for employee engagement i.e. peertopeer accountability.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Follows the patient and familycentered care standards and provides direct patient care under the direction of a registered nurse. Documents where applicable care administered diagnostic measurements treatments and procedures in accordance with established policies and procedures and cultural diversity and inclusion principles. Responds to the call light system contacting nursing personnel as appropriate and follows through with meeting patient needs.

• Assists with maintaining cleaning and stocking of equipment and supplies as established on assigned unit. May serve as an inhouse courier which may include retrieving blood hand delivering labs tele boxes etc. Organizes the workflow problemsolves basic and routine matters and manages multiple ongoing priorities seeking guidance and assistance from preceptor licensed nurse or management.

• Contributes towards improving department scores for patient satisfaction through peertopeer accountability i.e. bedside shift handoff/report.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Reports observations conditions and problems of patients to licensed personnel to achieve desired patient outcomes. Provides for the privacy of patients and families keeping the safety of the patient in mind.

• Provides appropriate handoff at change of shift at patient bedside to communicate and collaborate promoting patientcentered care.

• Conducts hourly rounding to ensure patient needs are met (four Ps). Reports near misses and collaborates with the interprofessional health care team to improve patient safety.

• Contributes towards improving quality and safety scores through peertopeer accountability. Supports initiatives to prevent conditions such as pressure injuries patient falls and hospitalacquired infections.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Assists with patient and staffing needs (floats) across the service line or hospital as competencies allow. Utilizes time between heavy workloads efficiently.

• Utilizes resources with cost effectiveness and value creation in mind. Selfmotivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks minimizing incidental overtime assisting coworkers as needed.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Offers innovative solutions in performance improvement projects and shared governance activities.

• Seeks opportunities to identify selfdevelopment needs on knowledge base skill level and decisionmaking as necessary especially in areas of question from preceptor and assigned licensed personnel and takes appropriate action. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an ongoing basis.

This job description is not intended to be allinclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. EDUCATION

• High School diploma or equivalent education (examples include: GED verification of homeschool equivalency partial or full completion of postsecondary education etc.)

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Must complete one of the following:
• PCA externship
• PCA internal internship
• Six months of direct patient care experience
• Enrolled in a school of nursing program with a completed first clinical rotation

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED

• BLS Basic Life Support (AHA) AND
• CNA Certified Nursing Assistant State Licensure For Skilled Nursing Facility(SNF)/Rehab departments only

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job determined through ongoing skills competency assessments and performance evaluations

• Sufficient proficiency in speaking reading and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

• Ability to effectively communicate with patients physicians family members and coworkers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles

• Performs basic patient care activities of daily living (ADLs) within unit specific defined limits and job scope such as assistance with patient elimination hygiene comfort safety nutrition and progress activity

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform No
• Scrubs Yes
• Business professional No
• Other (department approved) Yes

ONCALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be oncall during emergencies (ie. DIsaster Severe Weather Events etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* No

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area No
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No

Company Profile:

Houston Methodist Hospital is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the No. 1 hospital in Texas (twoway tie) and one of America Best Hospitals. As a fullservice acutecare hospital located in the Texas Medical Center and the flagship hospital of Houston Methodist it has evolved into one of the nation largest nonprofit teaching hospitals and a leader in innovative medical research with a comprehensive residency program. Two of Houston Methodist primary academic affiliates are among the nation leading health care organizations: Weill Cornell Medicine and New YorkPresbyterian Hospital. Houston Methodist also has affiliations with Texas A&M University and the University of Houston. With 948 operating beds 85 operating rooms and more than 8400 employees Houston Methodist Hospital offers unparalleled care for thousands of patients from around the world.

Houston Methodist is an equal opportunity employer inclusive of women minorities disabled persons and veterans.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Houston Methodist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Equal employment opportunity is a sound and just concept to which Houston Methodist is firmly bound. Houston Methodist will not engage in discrimination against or harassment of any person employed or seeking employment with Houston Methodist on the basis of race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin age disability status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law. VEVRAA Federal Contractor priority referral Protected Veterans requested.

Remote Work :

No

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