Patient Care Technician I - Multitrauma Telemetry

Full time - Rotating shift (7:00AM-7:30PM/7:00PM-7:30AM)

General Summary

Under the direction of professional nursing staff, provides direct patient care. Takes vital signs, checks surgical dressings, aids patient's with activities of daily living.  This role performs blood draws and collects specimen samples. Observes and collects data and communicates about the patient's status in order to identify needs and provides needed care. Serves as a member of the interdisciplinary patient care services team.

Principal Responsibilities and Tasks

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the person assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.

1. Performs testing and manages the care of the patient based on results achieved and clinical findings.
2. Records patient care along the continuum, including activities of daily living (ADLs): feeding, bathing, dressing, toileting and transferring.
3. Completes, documents and reports patient vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, pulse, respiration, oxygen saturation and reported pain level).
4. Assists in admission, transfer and discharge of patients.
5. Participates in cost effective strategies to optimize patient outcomes.
6. Promotes patient safety including fall prevention. Ensures the safety of the clinical environment for patients, visitors, and other staff members.
7. Maintains order and appearance of patient rooms and work area. Maintains patient care supplies and linen.
8. Provides post-mortem care.
9. Collaborates with members of the health care team to carry out the plan of care, including reporting observed changes in patients' condition.
10. Ensure patient comfort relative to their pain status.
11. Measures and documents dietary intake and patient urinary and stool output. Documents calorie count. Measures and documents patient weight.
12. Conducts indwelling urinary catheter care. Applies, maintains and removes external urinary catheter devices. 
13. Conducts blood glucose monitoring.
14. Provides wound care to promote healing and maintain structural integrity of the skin. Performs skin care and hygiene and reports impaired skin integrity and/or wound impairment. Assists with appropriate strategies and/or treatment measures to provide wound care.
15. Assists with collection of patient specimens for laboratory testing. Incorporates proper techniques for patient identification, method for collection of appropriate specimen(s) and documentation.
16. Provides orthopedic/rehab device care: e.g. braces, splints, CPM.  Dons/doffs compression wraps/stockings.
17. Participates in hourly patient rounding in collaboration with the health care team.
18. Responds to patient triggered alarms, including call light, chair alarm, bed alarm, tele-sitter alarm, etc.
19. Complies with the Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals within scope of practice.
20. Detects, reports, and acts to avoid or correct safety risks.  Reports adverse events and near misses to appropriate management authority. 
21. Provides professional vigilance to assigned patients, including when assigned as a patient safety companion.
22. Incorporates safe lifting techniques and body mechanics in daily practice.         
23. Improves patient flow and prevents care delays.
24. Performs other duties as assigned.    

Renowned as the academic flagship of the University of Maryland Medical System, our Magnet-designated facility is a nationally recognized, academic medical center with opportunities across the continuum of care.  Come join UMMC and discover the atmosphere where talents and ideas come together to enhance patient care and advance the science of nursing.  Located in downtown Baltimore near the Inner Harbor and Camden Yards, you won't find a more vibrant place to work! 

Multi Trauma Telemetry is one of 12 units in the world renowned R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. Multi Trauma Telemetry is a 12 bed Acute Care/Telemetry unit that provides high quality care to medically-complex trauma patients. As a specialty focused unit, Multi Trauma telemetry provides staff with the unique opportunity to treat trauma patients and provide ongoing education to patients and their families. Patients on Multi Trauma telemetry require frequent monitoring and high-level nursing interventions. Most patients on this unit are on continuous telemetry and/or pulse oximetry monitoring. Multi Trauma Telemetry offers experience with cardiac monitoring, detailed assessments, post-operative wound/ dressing care, drain care, medication management, tube feeding, tracheostomy care, and in-depth collaborative patient care planning. Staff on this unit are empowered and highly encouraged to drive change on the unit, as well as within the organization through evidence-based practice and continued engagement within the organizational shared governance model. Multi Trauma Telemetry offers consistent opportunity for continued growth and development, both professionally and clinically.

Patients on this unit are admitted with a variety of diagnoses and/or mechanisms of injury, providing vast learning opportunities.

Highlights:

• Patient population:
  • Multi Trauma Patients: Any mechanism of injury (i.e. falls, car accidents, victims of violence, work-related, recreational, etc.)
• Ratios:
  • RN: 4:1
  • Tech: 6:1, may flex to 9:1 for staffing
• Full patient monitoring capabilities (cardiac and pulse oximetry)
• Lots of opportunities to engage patient in their care and prepare them for discharge
• Shared Governance Model
  • Countless employee engagement opportunities
  • Staff- based councils and committees drive change within the organization 
• Great teamwork and support

Education & Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Current Maryland state certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or Geriatric Nursing Assistant (GNA) required.   
• No previous experience required; previous direct patient care experience in a health care facility preferred.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.