Patient Care Assistant (PCA), NICU, Full Time, Day

Location: UC Medical Center 
Department: NICU
Hours: Full Time 36 hrs/ week 
Shift: 12 hr Day 7am-7pm

UC Health is hiring a full- time PCA or the day shift to support NICU at UC Medical Center.

Level III NICU with a variety of complications, such as micro-prematurity at 23 weeks with numerous risk factors and comorbidities, feeder-growers, infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (opioid withdrawal). 

About UC Medical Center

As the pioneering hospital of UC Health, Greater Cincinnati’s academic health system, UC Medical Center has served greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky for nearly 200 years. Each year, hundreds of thousands of patients receive care from our world-renowned clinicians and care teams utilizing the most advanced medical knowledge and technology available. UC Medical Center has 725 licensed beds and more than 5,800 employees.

Unit Details:

• Opportunity to work with collaborative interdisciplinary teams – L&D, 3NW, SW, lactation, Therapy, Peds. Great environment for those wanting to use this experience as a stepping stone or further their education.
• Diverse patient population – We work in a learning environment with high risk/complicated, diverse patient backgrounds. We have the opportunity to care for both High risk Antepartum and Postpartum patients, each shift comes with new interesting challenges where we utilize those collaborative teams to provide the best patient care.

The Patient Care Assistant provides basic direct patient care as delegated by clinical professional personnel in accordance with delegation law and rules and current education.  The PCA maintains an orderly, clean and safe environment for patients and visitors.

PATIENT POPULATION - (CLINICAL ONLY): 

• Engages in population appropriate communication. Has knowledge of growth and development milestones and tasks. Gives clear instructions to patients/family regarding treatment. Involves family/guardian in the assessment, initial treatment and continuing care of the patient. Identifies any physical limitations of the patient and deploys intervention when necessary. Recognizes and responds appropriately to patients/families with behavioral health problems. Interprets population related data and plans care appropriately. Identifies and responds appropriately to different needs resulting from, unique psychological needs or those associated with religious/cultural norms. Performs treatments, administers medication or operates equipment safely. Recognizes and responds to signs/symptoms of abuse or neglect. 

Patient Care: 

• Provides all patient care in a manner that is culturally-based and age-specific. Measures vital signs, records observation of skin integrity, intake & output, height & weight (bedside or w/c scale); reports all changes including mental status. Specimen collection: routine urine, clean catch urine, 24-hour urine, collection of self-expectorant sputum. Assists with activities of daily living (ADL's), skin care, tube and catheter care, turning, positioning, transfer and ambulating, range of motion (ROM), hot and cold compresses. Provides hygiene and comfort measures to include Bathing/showering, Peri-care. Changes linens as needed. Empties drainage bags and records outputs disposes of bodily fluids/waste. Utilizes patient care equipment such as manual/hydraulic/electronic lift/hoyer lift/bed scale. Removes and reapplies splints, braces, cervical collars, skin and skeletal traction, anti-embolic stockings. Performs post-mortem care. Distributes and removes food trays, sets up meal trays, positions and prepares patient for meals, assists and/or feeds patient, assists with menu selection, records calorie counts, provides snacks and fluids, monitors head of bed (HOB) with patients receiving tube feedings. Assists with turning, coughing and deep breathing; provides follow-up to incentive spirometry; reapplies O2 cannula/mask, provide portable oxygen tank for transport. May perform EKG's mobile care phlebotomy (MCP), and blood  glucose. 

Communication: 

• Communicates patient observations to RN timely and appropriately. Orients patients and visitors to room and unit and updates the white boards appropriately. Records measurements and patient data. Documents treatments and procedures performed. Responds to and utilizes nurse call system. Reception and phone duties, as directed. Retrieves information from the computer. 

Environment: 

• Facilitates the maintenance of a clean, safe and organized environment for patients and coworkers. Removes equipment when no longer in use to appropriate area for cleaning.