Patient Care Assistant, Per Diem

JOB SUMMARY

The Patient Care Assistant (PCA) receives daily assignments and functions under the supervision of the Registered Nurse to carry out direct patient care responsibilities. All patient care team members act to meet patient needs and learn new skills to achieve quality patient care and customer service. Team members promote a cooperative working relationship with each other, other staff, and the public by facilitating and enhancing communication, displaying honesty and respect, displaying sensitivity to age specific needs and cultural differences, and expressing and accepting feedback in a professional manner. The final salary and offer components are subject to additional approvals based on UC policy. Your placement within the salary range is dependent on a number of factors including your work experience and internal equity within this position classification at UCSF.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

Not Applicable

DUTIES & ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

% 

of time

Essential Function (Yes/No)

Key Responsibilities

(To be completed by Supervisor)

75%

Patient Care

• Observes patients to detect behavior patterns and reports observations to the medical/nursing staff and documents them in the electronic medical record.
• Uses de-escalation techniques to resolve issues with patient’s behavior.
• Maintains therapeutic boundaries with patient and families.
• Intervenes to restrain violent or potential violent patients by verbal or physical means as required. Completes all documentation in a timely manner

10%

• Helps patients with their personal hygiene, such as bathing and keeping beds, clothing and living areas clean
• Other tasks and duties as required. 

15%

• Documents vital signs and other pertinent observations in the electronic medical record.
• Intervenes to restrain violent or potential violent suicidal patients by verbal or physical means as required. Completes all documentation in a timely manner

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

100%

LIVING PRIDE STANDARDS

Service Excellence

• Demonstrates service excellence by following the Everyday PRIDE Guide with the UCSF Medical Center standards and expectations for communication and behavior.  These standards and expectations convey specific behavior associated with the Medical Center’s values: Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diversity and Excellence, and provide guidance on how we communicate with patients, visitors, faculty, staff, and students, virtually everyone, every day and with every encounter. These standards include, but are not limited to: personal appearance, acknowledging and greeting all patients and families, introductions using AIDET, managing up, service recovery, managing delays and expectations, phone standards, electronic communication, team work, cultural sensitivity and competency.   

• Uses effective communication skills with patients and staff; demonstrates proper telephone techniques and etiquette; acts as an escort to any patient or family member needing directions; shows sensitivity to differences of culture; demonstrates a positive and supportive manner in which patients / families/ colleagues perceive interactions as positive and supportive. Exhibits team work skills to positively acknowledge and recognize other colleagues, and uses personal experiences to model and teach Living PRIDE standards. 

• Exhibits tact and professionalism in difficult situations according to PRIDE Values and Practices

• Demonstrates an understanding of and adheres to privacy, confidentiality, and security policies and procedures related to Protected Health Information (PHI) or other sensitive and personal information.

• Demonstrates an understanding of and adheres to safety and infection control policies and procedures.

• Assumes accountability for improving quality metrics associated with department/unit and meeting organizational/departmental targets. 

Work Environment

• Keeps working areas neat, orderly and clutter-free, including the hallways.  Adheres to cleaning processes and puts things back where they belong. Removes and reports broken equipment and furniture.

• Picks up and disposes of any litter found throughout entire facility. 

• Posts flyers and posters in designated areas only; does not post on walls, doors or windows.

• Knows where the Environment of Care Manual is kept in department; corrects or reports unsafe conditions to the appropriate departments. 

• Protects the physical environment and equipment from damage and theft.

OTHER FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Duties listed in this section are not essential or intrinsic to the job but are performed at times.

 Included in this section should be a general statement such as. “Perform other duties as assigned.” 

This phrase allows the supervisor to assign sporadic or one-time tasks as needed.

Please list:

• Performs other duties as assigned.

POPULATIONS SERVED

Infant              

Child                  

Adolescent      

Adult               

MEDICATION ACCESS AND STORAGE 

The “Medication and Auxiliary Staff Competency” must be successfully completed for Level I, Level II or Level III staff PRIOR to performing duties requiring medication access (including access, transport, and/or stocking activities OR access to medication storage areas for cleaning).   

LEVEL 1: Access Med Storage Areas for Cleaning

LEVEL 2: Access & Transport

LEVEL 3: Access, Transport & Stocking 

Drivers  

Anesthesia Technicians

Patient Support Assistants (PSAs)

Hospital Assistants (depending on specific duties; ask HR if unsure)

Hospital Unit Service Coordinators

Material Services Personnel

Volunteers

Medical Assistants

Nuclear Medicine Technologists 

Ophthalmology Technician 

Patient Care Assistants (PCAs)

Pharmacy Storekeepers

Radiology Technologists (all modalities, Ultrasound, Mammo, etc.)

Instructions: After employee successfully completes the level-appropriate competency, please check the corresponding box below. Obtain the employee’s and manager’s signatures to attest that the competency was completed and send the signed job description to HR for the employee’s personnel file. 

_____ Level 1      As a part of his/her daily activities, employees may have access to medication storage areas for cleaning only.  These activities must be in compliance with the Medications and Auxiliary Staff competency for Level 1. 

_____ Level 2:     As part of his/her daily activities, employee may access and transport medications. These activities must be in compliance with the Medications and Auxiliary Staff competency for Level 2

_____x Level 3:      As part of his/her daily activities, employee may access, transport and stock medications. These activities must be in compliance with the Medications and Auxiliary Staff competency for Level 3.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• This position requires the ability to orient and work at all UCSF Medical Center locations.

• Experience successfully using de-escalation techniques 

• Experience working with medically/mentally ill individuals

• Experience working with pediatric patients and their families

• Medical Assistant Certification, Certified Nursing Assistant Certification and/or post high school vocational/ specialized medical training certificate or in your first year of nursing school.

• Current American Health Association BLS.

• High school diploma or successful completion of GED.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Previous work experience with behaviorally challenged, mentally impaired, and/or eating disorder patients

• Previous work experience as a patient care assistant

REQUIRED LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS

• Experience with Electronic Medical Record (Epic)