Patient Care Technician, PACU

About the Role

Join a collaborative and supportive Pre-Op team focused on patient safety and providing an outstanding experience as patients prepare for surgery. The 15-bed unit supports a variety of surgical specialties and procedures. The schedule for this on-site position is 4:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with no weekends or holidays.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide direct patient care, including assisting with procedures, activities of daily living, patient transport, positioning, toileting, bathing, feeding, and ambulation.
• Support preoperative patient preparation, including obtaining and documenting vital signs, blood glucose testing, CHG bathing, answering phones, and assisting with patient flow.
• Perform core Patient Care Technician responsibilities, including point-of-care testing, weights, vital signs, intake and output, specimen collection, Foley care, bladder scans, simple dressings, telemetry monitor application/reapplication, restraints, and intra-hospital patient transportation.
• Maintain competency in advanced skills based on department needs, including phlebotomy/venipuncture, 12-lead EKG, basic arrhythmia, peripheral IV removal, Foley catheter removal, straight catheterization, and NG tube clamping/removal.
• Assist with physical, respiratory, and cardiopulmonary therapies and promptly report changes in patient condition to the RN.
• Provide patient and family instruction under the direction of the RN and document care according to established procedures.
• Respond to call lights and telephones, pass meal trays, transport patients, and assist with clerical and other unit activities as needed.
• Communicate effectively and maintain professional, respectful relationships with patients, families, and members of the healthcare team.
• Follow all patient care, safety, infection prevention, confidentiality, and hospital policies and procedures. Report equipment malfunctions appropriately.
• Demonstrate accountability, adaptability, initiative, cultural awareness, teamwork, and a commitment to patient and workplace safety.
• Seek feedback and assistance as needed, identify learning opportunities, and support department projects, quality initiatives, and continuous improvement.
• Access to medications is limited to distribution of medication to the nurse.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Must meet one of the following:
• 1 year of general healthcare experience.
• 6 months of experience as a UPMC Nursing Assistant/CNA, with PCT competency achieved within 120 days of hire, transfer, or promotion for candidates with less than 1 year of experience.
• Enrollment in a PT, OT, PA, or related healthcare training program with completion of at least one clinical rotation.
• Bachelor’s degree in a health sciences field.
• Successful completion of the UPMC Patient Care Technician class and eRecord training.
• EMT or Paramedic certification, or current enrollment in an EMT or Paramedic program, preferred.

Qualifications

• Basic Life Support (BLS) or CPR meeting AHA standards, including both didactic and skills demonstration components, required within 30 days of hire.
• ACLS preferred.
• Act 31 Mandated Reporter/Child Abuse Reporting training required within 90 days of hire or transfer, with renewal as applicable.
• Act 33 Clearance with renewal.
• Act 34 Clearance with renewal.
• Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal.