PATIENT CARE AST

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.

%  

of time

Essential Function (Yes/No)

Key Responsibilities

(To be completed by Supervisor)

40

General Patient Care - performs general patient care duties as appropriate to ages served.

1. Provides or assists patients with personal hygiene such as bathing (tub, bed, shower), mouth care, elimination needs, and changing bed linens.

2. Responds to patients' call lights promptly.

3. Provides for patients’ comfort and safety; follows prescribed measures such as ambulating, positioning, range of motion exercises, side rails, special beds and restraints.

4. Turns, moves, and transfers patients and/or equipment using principles of proper body mechanics.

5. Assists patients with food needs, such as collecting menus, setting up meal trays, cutting food, and/or feeding.

6. Records nutritional intake on appropriate records which may include selected patients on calorie count.

7. Assists in admission, discharge, transfer, and transport of patients, personal belongings and equipment.

8. Orients new patients to the room/unit.

9. Organizes and prioritizes patient care tasks and assignments, considering each patient's needs and preferences and overall unit activities.

10. Assists with post-mortem care as assigned by the RN.

11. Performs sitter/close observation responsibilities as assigned.

12. Recognizes situations which necessitate supervision/guidance and seeks appropriate resources.

13. Relates complete and pertinent information, observations, and care given to patients in verbal and written reports.

14. Documents all procedures and care given in an accurate, legible, and properly signed manner.

40

Technical Duties - performs technical duties as appropriate to ages served.

1. Reports and records delegated patient data (e g. vital signs, pain score, oxygen saturation, height, weight, intake and output), and collects other patient data as assigned.

2. Performs selected patient care procedures (e g. basic skin care, application of hot and cold compresses/ice packs, incentive spirometry) and other treatments as assigned by the RN.

3. Carries out duties of first responder in emergency situations.

4. Sets up and maintains O2 therapy equipment.

5. Labels specimens accurately and arranges for timely delivery to the laboratory.

6. Operates nursing unit equipment (e g. computer, fax machine, imprinter device, intercom system) as required.

7. Completes other unit maintenance activities as assigned (e g. inventories and stocks supplies, maintains/cleans equipment such as IV pumps, dinamaps, slide boards, wheelchairs, etc.). 

20

Other Duties and Responsibilities - performs other duties as appropriate to ages served.

1. Follows all unit, department, and Medical Center policies, procedures, and work rules.

2. Maintains confidentiality in matters related to patients and/or staff.

3. Follows House and Telephone Standards as established by Medical Center.

4. Maintains knowledge of and adheres to all applicable Medical Center and unit specific infection control, health and safety policies and procedures.

5. Completes annual safety training.

6. Supports the mission, philosophy, and goals of the Medical Center.

7. Supports the development of unit/team goals and actively participates in unit staff meetings, in-services, and educational programs as required.

8. Contributes to and actively participates in the quality assurance and quality improvement process.

9. Maintains a clean, safe and functional work environment.

10. Starts work at scheduled time and completes work on time.

11. Follows guidelines on use of sick leave and other paid time off.

12. Complies with dress code, including photo identification.

13. Provides unsolicited assistance to team members.

14. Uses appropriate chain of command when applicable, e.g., problem solving, seeking information.      

15. Performs other duties as assigned (e.g. emptying linen hampers, answering phones/unit reception, collecting meal trays, etc.).

100%

(To update total %, enter the amount of time in whole numbers (without the % symbol - e.g., 15, 20) then highlight the total sum (e.g., 1%) at the bottom of the column and press F9. The total sum should add up to 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

Employees who routinely provide direct patient care require a statement concerning Populations Served Competencies. Typically, a statement such as “Demonstrated ability to provide appropriate care based on the needs of a specific individual, including the patient’s age.” is sufficient. Select from the following patient age categories.

Infant              

Child                  

Adolescent      

Adult               

Geriatric               

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

_____ 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

• At least 1 year of working hands on in a healthcare environment.

• Ability to work effectively within a team.

• Ability to satisfactorily perform job duties as defined in the job description.

• Willingness to be taught/learn new skills.     

• Ability to understand and communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing.                 

• Ability to perform basic arithmetic computations (addition and subtraction).                              

• Ability to organize and effectively set priorities.

• Knowledge of medical terminology appropriate to the responsibilities of the job is preferred.             

• Ability to carry out duties of first responder in emergency situations.                                             

• Successful completion of Medical Center Patient Care Assistant training.

• Basic computer skills.

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

PREFERRED QUALIFICATION

• Certified Nursing Assistance Certification