At Houston Methodist, the Patient Care Assistant (PCA) Specialist position is responsible for functioning as an expert and demonstrates highly competent knowledge necessary to communicate appropriately and carry out delegated nursing assistant level tasks for assigned patient populations, for providing high quality support of patient care and services. This position exercises sound judgement and executes proficient clinical skills necessary for assisting with patient-care procedures. The PCA Specialist position performs basic patient care activities of daily living (ADL's) within unit specific 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. Other duties for this position include independently and expertly performing the duties and responsibilities of preceptor and clinical resource to PCAs, training and orienting others.
PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Promotes a positive work environment that actively assists interprofessional care team to achieve optimal department results. Makes contributions to the work effort as a whole, by leading and initiating problem resolution within the work unit. Facilitates teamwork by anticipating the need for assistance and responding positively to requests for assistance.
- Collaborates with all members of the interprofessional health care team by actively communicating and reporting pertinent patient care information and data in a comprehensive manner. Teaches peers to critically think by verbally expressing rationale for decisions and follows up consistently. Facilitates open, professional communication to achieve mutual understanding, role modeling by example.
- Independently executes the duties and responsibilities of preceptor, serves as a clinical resource in the department, using advanced skills and competencies, guiding and mentoring colleagues through processes to provide optimal patient care. Provides structured feedback with examples.
- Conducts self in a manner that is congruent with cultural diversity, equity, and inclusion principles. Initiates contributions towards improvement of department scores for employee engagement, i.e., peer-to-peer accountability.
SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Role models the patient and family-centered 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. 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 in-house courier which may include retrieving blood, hand delivering labs, tele boxes, etc. Organizes the workflow, problem-solves basic and routine matters, and manages multiple ongoing priorities, seeking guidance and assistance from preceptor, licensed nurse, or management.
- Role models behaviors and skills, through peer-to-peer accountability, towards improving department score for patient satisfaction, 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 hand-off at change of shift at patient bedside to communicate and collaborate, promoting patient-centered care.
- Conducts hourly rounding to ensure patient needs are met (four P's). Reports near misses and collaborates with the interprofessional health care team to improve patient safety.
- Offers innovative solutions in performance improvement projects and shared governance activities impacting quality and safety target, through peer-to-peer accountability, reporting near misses, and collaborating with the interprofessional team. Supports initiatives to prevent conditions such as pressure injuries, patient falls, and hospital-acquired 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. Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks, minimizing incidental overtime, assisting coworkers as needed. Role models effective time management and coordinates colleagues to meet the overall demands of the department.
GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Develops skills of team members and continually assists with improving skills, performance and outcomes. Fosters a positive and constructive patient care environment by engaging co-workers in learning opportunities that are valuable and in alignment with department objectives.
- Seeks opportunities to identify self-development needs and takes appropriate action. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an ongoing basis, including the development of advanced skills.
This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; 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 post-secondary education, etc.)
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Three years acute care hospital or post-acute care experience or two years Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)/Paramedic experience or Graduate Nurse (GN) who will be retaking the NCLEX for RN licensure.
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