Nursing at Brigham and Women's Hospital is known for their excellent clinical practice and for keeping patients and their families at the center of all they do. We understand that great care is shaped by relationships with patients and their families. That's why we're committed to knowing our patients on a deeper level - not just as patients, but as individuals - to ensure that they, and their families, feel known and cared for.
At BWH, we proudly work together with a spirit of inquiry and a deep commitment to providing the highest quality, evidence-informed and theory-guided care in an inclusive environment. We work each day to achieve our vision - to provide excellent care to patients and families, with the best staff, in the safest environment.
Just as we have been able to reinvent health care, we have also transformed health care careers. Whether measured in terms of lives saved, awards earned, or the personal satisfaction of stretching your talents - a career with BWH is unlike any other in the health care field. Here you'll find a workplace where collaboration and teamwork are the norm, not the exception - physicians, nurses, technicians, staff and management form a close-knit bond, based on mutual respect and devotion to our patients. If you want an enormously fulfilling career, there's no better place to be.
The PCA will be responsible for:
1. Assists with meeting direct patient care needs
2. Consistently fosters a healing environment with respect and kindness demonstrating respect for all individuals with sensitivity to cultural diversity
3. Contributes to the plan of care through ongoing communication with the RN
4. Assists with patient data and specimen collection
5. Assists with equipment preparation and set up
6. Supports a Culture of Safety by providing a safe and comfortable patient/family experience where risks are reduced and/or eliminated
6.1. Completes hourly patient care rounds, anticipating patient needs proactively
6.2. Maintains patient and family privacy and confidentiality
6.3. Responds to patient and family requests, including answering patient call lights in a timely manner
6.4. Seeks registered nurse assistance to meet patient/family needs when necessary.
6.5. Communicates in a respectful manner with all members of the interdisciplinary team
6.6. Monitors patient and environment for safety concerns and immediately reports changes to RN/licensed nurse
6.7. Maintains a safe and clean patient care environment
6.8. Follows Infection Prevention Practices
a. Proper hand washing demonstrated 100% of the time
b. Utilizes 2 patient identifiers for proper patient identification prior to all specimen collections
6.9 Follows Safe Patient Handling principles to maintain safety for both patients and staff
7. Documents aspects of care on approved forms or electronic medical record
8. Participates as a member of the Interdisciplinary team to meet patient/family and unit/department needs
9. Proactively provides assistance to others
10. Performs delegated responsibilities and demonstrates willingness to adapt to changing unit demands
11. Provides care appropriate to age group of patients on assigned unit(s) as described in the relevant unit profiles
12. Mentoring and teaching is provided for new PCAs to meet performance expectations
13. Other duties as assigned
In collaboration with the Nursing Manager/Director and Clinical Nurse Specialist/Nursing Practice Specialist/Nursing Professional Development Specialist identifies and meets learning needs. Completes annual required training and updates knowledge through periodic inservices.
Direct Patient Care:
* Assists with activities of daily living (i.e. personal hygiene/grooming, bathing/showering, toileting, dressing, and functionality/mobility)
* Sets up food trays and assist patients with meals as indicated
* Performs preventative skin care
* Assists patients with positioning, turning, mobilization, ambulation, passive and active range of motion per plan of care
* Applies/removes pneumatic sequential compression sleeves
* Adheres to standard precautions
* Adheres to hand hygiene guidelines
* Assists with admission/discharge process
* Provides safe patient transportation
* Orients patients and families/visitors to surroundings
* Ensures safekeeping of patient valuables including packing and storing
* Checks patients for ID bands, and notifies nurse if replacement is needed
Patient Data and Specimen Collection:
* Utilizes 2 patient identifiers for proper patient identification prior to all specimen collections
* Obtains and records vital signs, pulse oximetry and non-invasive B/P and immediately reports changes to RN/licensed nurse
* Performs blood glucose testing
Equipment:
* Retrieves equipment from other areas
* Cleans equipment between patient use
* Follows equipment management protocols on assigned unit for patient use:
* Cardiac monitors
* Portable oxygen cylinder
* Nasal cannula/face mask
* Pulse oximeter and probe
* Suction canister-liner system
* Patient lifting equipment
* Scales: Standing/Chair/Wheelchair
* Provides a Safe and Comfortable Patient/Family experience
* Adheres to service excellence standards during care provision with respectful, courteous, culturally sensitive care
* Responds to call lights in a timely manner and prioritizes call light response appropriately
* Participates in hourly rounding per unit protocol
* Provides constant observation for patients at risk for injury in person or virtually
* Reapplies soft restraints/roll belt per unit protocol
* Uses principles of Safe Patient Handling
Documentation on Approved Forms and in Medical Record
* Records intake of fluids and food
* Records height and weight
* Records output of urine, stool, vomitus, and drain output
* Records vital signs, pulse oximetry and noninvasive BPs
* Records blood glucose results
Addendum: Lists essential areas of responsibility, major job duties, special projects and key objectives for this position that are applicable to a specific unit that may not be all inclusive. As there is variability in delegated tasks depending on the population of a particular patient care unit, these items should be evaluated throughout the year and included in the written annual evaluation.
Patient Data and Specimen Collection
Depending on unit requirements as outlined may perform the following:
* Records 12 lead ECG
* Performs phlebotomy
* Performs Pulse Volume Recording (PVR)
* Performs bladder scanning
* Collects and tests stool for fecal occult blood
Critical Care
* Demonstrates blood withdrawal via arterial line using needleless vacutainer
* Demonstrates blood withdrawal for blood gases via arterial line stopcock
* Sets up noninvasive measurement of BP and pulse via monitor software
* Performs oral suctioning with a yankeur catheter
* Demonstrates insertion of a urinary catheter
* Demonstrates removal of a urinary catheter
Psychiatric
* Works effectively in the therapeutic milieu
* Checks patient belongings on admission per unit protocol
* Provides safety checks and patient visibility rounds
* Maintains sharps sign out roster
* Checks patients/visitors in and out of unit
Tasks Supporting the Medication System
* Removes medication from the pneumatic tube system and places those medications in the drop-off bin located in the medication storage area
* In the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, the PCA removes the medications from the pneumatic tube system and delivers them directly to the registered nurse responsible for the patient
Unit Specific Skills:
* Discontinues short peripheral IV catheters
* Applies/removes continuous passive motion (CPM) device with assist in the presence of a healthcare professional
* Assists the healthcare professional in performing extensive wound care
* Removes and applies splints/devices with assist in the presence of a healthcare professional
* Assists with tracheostomy care including ventilatory support with ambu bag in the presence of a healthcare professional
* Performs urine dipstick testing
Note: These roles are consistent with the application of professional delegation as outlined in the Board of Registration in Nursing and Nurse Practice Act.
SKILLS & COMPETENCIES REQUIRED: This section should be a bulleted list of minimum requirements explaining the skills (what the individual is trained for) and competencies (measurable as defined by the job) necessary to perform the job.
* Knowledge of English language sufficient to read, speak, and write accurately
* Knowledge of simple arithmetic
* Ability to lift and transport patients using the appropriate physical technique in a safe manner for the patient and self, according to Safe Patient Handling Guidelines
* Ability to master basic computer skillsExcellent interpersonal skills to interact effectively with patients, visitors and hospital personnel
- Supporting the RN with clinical tasks, including, but not limited to glucometry, EKGs, and vital signs.
- Responding to the needs of patients and family members and takes a proactive role in the efficient operation of the unit.
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Nov 29, 2024