The Patient Care Assistant II supports the nursing team by performing clinical tasks such as vital sign monitoring, EKGs, and blood glucose testing. They also provide direct personal care to patients, maintain a safe environment, and assist with unit operations.
Requirements summary
Candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent and a valid Certified Nursing Assistant or Patient Care Technician certification. Successful completion of an approved nursing assistant training program and Heartsaver CPR/AED certification are also required.
Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital, Inc. Mass General Brigham relies on a wide range of professionals, including doctors, nurses, business people, tech experts, researchers, and systems analysts to advance our mission. As a not-for-profit, we support patient care, research, teaching, and community service, striving to provide exceptional care. We believe that high-performing teams drive groundbreaking medical discoveries and invite all applicants to join us and experience what it means to be part of Mass General Brigham. Job Summary Summary 8 and 12 hour shifts every other weekend and holidays Grade 130 The Patient Care Assistant II functions as a member of the patient care team, under the direction of the Registered Nurse (RN), and proficiently and consistently performs all aspects of the PCA role. The Patient Care Assistant II is responsible for supporting the RN with clinical tasks, including but not limited to blood glucose monitoring, completing EKGs, applying simple dressings, using aseptic technique and responding to medical emergency situations utilizing Heartsaver CPR and AED skills. In addition, the PCA II is responsible for responding to the needs of patients and family members and taking an active role in the efficient operation of the unit. The PCA II will also assure the practice of the Patient and Family Centered Care Model in an environment that exemplifies best practice. Does this position require Patient Care? Yes Essential Functions
Provision of a safe environment
Anticipates and identifies patient safety risks, in cooperation with licensed nurse and takes appropriate action to reduce and/or eliminate the risks.
For example: maintains proper bed height, uses side rails and alarms appropriately, places call light within patient reach, provides frequent patient checks and assists patient with ambulation, as indicated.
Makes routine patient room rounds to address patient needs.
Follows and maintains restraint policies, under the supervision of a licensed nurse. Before utilizing any restraints, checks with the licensed nurse.
Provides 1:1 monitoring as a patient observer, for patients at risk for injury.
Follows established hospital infection control and safety procedures.
Utilizes proper body mechanics in moving and assisting patients, to prevent personal injury.
Organizational ethics
Maintains and promotes an atmosphere which reflects the mission and values of the organization.
Benefits
Health Insurance
Career advancement opportunities
Bonuses
Recognition programs
Differentials
Premiums
Respects and supports a culturally diverse staff and patient population.
Delivers care in a non-judgmental, non-discriminatory manner that is sensitive to and demonstrates respect for patient diversity.
Respects and maintains the confidentiality and privacy of patient, employee and hospital information at all times.
Works cooperatively with all staff members and takes appropriate steps to resolve interpersonal conflicts. Seeks assistance from RN, Nursing Director or Nursing Supervisor, as needed.
Dresses appropriately and according to dress code requirements, including wearing visible hospital I.D. badge that identifies self, as a Patient Care Assistant.
Management of resources
Efficiently organizes time and prioritizes patient care needs. Works with other patient care assistants, when possible to facilitate patient care.
Provides assistance to co-workers, as requested.
Adapts to changing patient and unit needs including but not limited to: offering assistance to other team members, floating, adjusting assignments, etc.
Communicates with Charge Nurse/Nursing Supervisor to coordinate break periods with unit activities. Maintains visibility on the unit and does not leave work area, without appropriate notification to the Charge Nurse/Staff Nurse.
Management of information
Reviews and is knowledgeable of appropriate policies, procedures and work rules.
Demonstrates an understanding of hospital emergency codes and how to call a code.
Utilizes hospital E-mail to access staff meeting minutes, notices and memos.
Reads and reviews meeting minutes and clinical updates.
Participates in staff meetings and appropriate in-services.
Maintains timely ongoing verbal communication with RN throughout the shift, regarding patient condition including, the status of completing delegated tasks. Recognizes and notifies RN immediately of any significant change in a patient’s condition and/or monitoring alarms (for example: change in vital signs, change in patient’s mental status, complaints of pain, abnormal blood sugar, patient fall or other injury, patient concerns with care).
Accurately collects and records patient data (vital signs, intake and output, blood sugar, weights, restraint care/monitoring, other) and complies with hospital documentation standards to ensure a complete and accurate patient record. COLLABORATIVE INTERDISCIPLINARY
Maintains and fosters a teamwork approach to patient care.
Patient/Family education
Addresses patient comfort and information needs by providing informative, nonclinical information to patients and families, orienting patients/visitors to the hospital, unit, patient room services, distributing patient mail/flowers, arranging room to ensure necessary personal care items are available & accessible (includes call lights), distributing nourishments, changing linens & clothing, refilling ice packs, running patient errands or other duties, as assigned by the RN.
In collaboration with the licensed nurse, reinforces the patient education provided by the nurse and provides patients/families with basic patient care instruction, such as instruction for using the call light, positioning, transferring, walking, toileting and feeding.
Competency
Complies with established practice standards, policies, procedures, protocols, guidelines, and regulations, (for example: DPH, JCAHO, Boston fire codes, OSHA).
Maintains and demonstrates compliance with hospital, nursing and unit specific competencies and care standards. Maintains competence in relation to a variety of technical skills that may include, but are not limited to: application of external monitors, use of the CPM machine, performing EKGs and blood glucose monitoring, applying simple dressings and Heartsaver CPR and AED skills.
Assists in the orientation of new patient care assistants and serves as a resource to float staff.
Quality improvement
Participates in hospital wide and unit based SEAQ programs and activities, as indicated.
Communicates any concerns related to quality patient care to the Nursing Director or Nurse Director, Clinical Leader and/or Nursing Supervisor.
Patient care
Completes patient care, as assigned by the licensed nurse, according to hospital policy and procedure.
Patient care includes:
Assisting with admission, discharge, and transfer of patients. Preparing room for admission and ensuring patients have appropriate identification bands upon admission and throughout their hospitalization.
Transporting patients and their belongings and their equipment and supplies, as needed and as part of the transfer/discharge process.
Providing personal care to patients including, bathing and skin care, shaving, mouth care, grooming, perineal care and changing linens, as per hospital protocols.
Providing basic skin care including but not limited to: back rubs, routine diabetic foot care, application of non-medicated ointments, application of elastic stockings, ace wraps, and compression boots, turning and repositioning patients every two hours, and other associated tasks.
Assisting the patient with elimination including, care of a urinary and condom catheter, use of bedpan, commode, toileting schedules, emptying colostomy bags, urinals and urinary drainage bags.
Carrying out planned patient care measures that provide patient comfort and pain relief such as, coordinating care to provide rest periods, minimizing noise, assisting in bed positioning.
Providing 1:1 monitoring as a patient observer, for patients at risk for injury and also providing the duties of the PCA II for the assigned patient.
Performing simple dressing changes, using aseptic technique.
Assisting nurse/health team members during simple and complex treatments or procedures.
Setting up patients for meals and assisting them with feeding and opening food containers, maintaining calorie counts and recording intake/output measures (I and Os).
Taking patient vital signs, completing intake and output data and daily weights accurately and documenting results completely.
Performing EKGs as directed and according to Hospital and Nursing Department Policy and Procedure.
Performing blood glucose monitoring as directed and according to Hospital and Nursing Department Policy and Procedure.
Documenting patient information in a timely, accurate and complete manner, on patient flow sheets.
Providing end of life care, including comfort measures only and post mortem care.
Collecting, labeling, and sending/transporting specimens to the lab with the appropriate lab slips/requisitions attached.
Initiating patient belongings tracking form and properly securing patient belongings in accordance with hospital policy and in conjunction with the RN. Consults with RN, if patient declines to secure their belongings or have their belongings sent home with family member or friend.
Responding promptly and courteously to all patient call lights and patient requests and seeking assistance from co-workers, as appropriate.
Maintaining patient rooms in an orderly and clean manner and stocking patient rooms, with needed supplies and equipment.
Making routine room rounds to un-clutter, clean and organize patient rooms/areas, when needed.
Checking inventories and restocking/replacing/assembling patient equipment and supplies.
Disposing of trash, soiled linens, medical waste and disposable items, appropriately.
Initiating and performing spot and spill cleaning, as needed.
Performing regular checks per policy and procedure to ensure that equipment is operating properly and has current safety inspections/expiration dates, before patient use.
Identifying broken/expired equipment/supplies, removing from service and notifying Charge RN/Staff Nurse.
Performing initial cleaning/decontamination of equipment/materials, e.g., removing reusable equipment from isolation rooms, and arranging for terminal cleaning, as appropriate.
Identifying emergency/crisis situations and initiating appropriate response actions, within the scope of her/his role. Responses include immediate communication of such events to the RN and assisting the nurse during and after the emergency, as directed. Qualifications Education High School Diploma or Equivalent required Can this role accept experience in lieu of a degree? No Licenses and Credentials Certified Nursing Assistant/Patient Care Technician [CNA/PCT] - Data Conversion - Various Issuers required and HeartSaver CPR AED - American Heart Association (AHA) required Experience
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Certified Nursing Assistant or current Nursing Student who has completed Fundamentals of Nursing or equivalent med/surgical clinical rotation. - Staff adheres to all I C.A.R.E. Standards. - Successful completion of an approved nursing assistant training program. - Ability to effectively speak, read and write using the English language. - Ability to pass clinical competency, basic math and reading testing. - Ability to perform basic math calculations and measurements, in order to measure height and weight, intake and output and calorie counts. - Ability to accurately interpret and utilize basic medical terminology and abbreviations. - Ability to enter and retrieve computerized information. - Physical ability to push, transfer, and pull heavy loads throughout assigned shift. - Physical ability to meet core job requirements in accordance with practice setting demands, for the patient populations regularly served. - Effective interpersonal skills to interact appropriately with nursing staff, patients, families/visitors, physicians, and other hospital staff. - Organizational skills to set priorities and efficiently complete assigned work. - Ability to manage stress related to patient care issues, and changing hospital climate and personnel issues. Additional Job Details (if applicable) Physical Requirements Standing Frequently (34-66%) Walking Frequently (34-66%) Sitting Occasionally (3-33%) Lifting Frequently (34-66%) 35lbs+ (w/assisted device) Carrying Frequently (34-66%) 20lbs - 35lbs Pushing Occasionally (3-33%) Pulling Occasionally (3-33%) Climbing Rarely (Less than 2%) Balancing Frequently (34-66%) Stooping Occasionally (3-33%) Kneeling Occasionally (3-33%) Crouching Occasionally (3-33%) Crawling Rarely (Less than 2%) Reaching Frequently (34-66%) Remote Type Onsite Work Location 1153 Centre Street Scheduled Weekly Hours 24 Employee Type Regular Work Shift Evening (United States of America) Pay Range $18.56 - $27.58/Hourly Grade SF1130 At Mass General Brigham, we believe in recognizing and rewarding the unique value each team member brings to our organization. Our approach to determining base pay is comprehensive, and any offer extended will take into account your skills, relevant experience if applicable, education, certifications and other essential factors. The base pay information provided offers an estimate based on the minimum job qualifications; however, it does not encompass all elements contributing to your total compensation package. In addition to competitive base pay, we offer comprehensive benefits, career advancement opportunities, differentials, premiums and bonuses as applicable and recognition programs designed to celebrate your contributions and support your professional growth. We invite you to apply, and our Talent Acquisition team will provide an overview of your potential compensation and benefits package. EEO Statement: 2810 Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. To ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Veteran’s Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact Human Resources at (857)-282-7642. Mass General Brigham Competency Framework At Mass General Brigham, our competency framework defines what effective leadership “looks like” by specifying which behaviors are most critical for successful performance at each job level. The framework is comprised of ten competencies (half People-Focused, half Performance-Focused) and are defined by observable and measurable skills and behaviors that contribute to workplace effectiveness and career success. These competencies are used to evaluate performance, make hiring decisions, identify development needs, mobilize employees across our system, and establish a strong talent pipeline. Combat disease. Hold a hand. Help people. Impact the world. Mass General Brigham is a passionate, welcoming community where minds meet caring hearts. Come be a part of the world’s most powerful force in medicine, where every role is important in changing lives. Are you ready? Our history includes New England hospitals founded over 200 years ago, some of the first and most prestigious hospitals in the world. Built on the legacy of two leading academic medical centers, we’re more than a system—we’re leaders in the practice of medicine. Mass General Brigham is committed to serving the community. We are dedicated to enhancing patient care, teaching and research, and taking a leadership role as an integrated health care system. We recognize that increasing value and continuously improving quality are essential to maintaining excellence.
