Patient Care Associate (PCA) - Psychiatry

Shift: Night, 11pm-7:15am

Responsibilities:

• Function as a member of a multidisciplinary team providing a full range of services to patients admitted to the inpatient psychiatry service.
• Participate in the patients' admission and orientation to the inpatient unit.
• Assist patients with changing, searching of patients, securing of valuables, reviewing unit rules and regulations, and providing orientation to room and unit.
• Assist with preparation and updating of the Nursing Care Plan and Interdisciplinary Treatment Team.
• Plan and assist with therapeutic interventions to implement the plans as established.
• Perform selected direct care duties including therapeutic intervention, taking of vital signs and other health-related data, simple dressing changes, sputum, blood and urine collection, urine testing, personal hygiene, and EKG’s.
• Assist with the provision of concrete services, such as transportation, obtaining clothes, and check cashing.
• Lead and co-lead various patient activity groups both recreational and therapeutic in nature.
• Assist with the preparation and implementation of discharge plans, such as arranging transportation and maintaining contact with family/others, to facilitate the patient’s discharge.
• Act as patient escort both on and off the Medical Center for various purposes.
• Intervene with physical restraints of violent/aggressive patients.
• Assist with the care of patients in seclusion/restraint as per departmental policy.
• Initiate CPR when necessary and assist the nursing team in carrying out the Code 77 protocol.
• Practice and maintain infection control.
• Maintain an assigned patient caseload providing ongoing supportive counseling to both the patient and family.

Requirements:

• CPI, BLS or Heart Saver, PCA Certificate
• If no Associate's degree: Minimum 2 years’ experience working in law enforcement, Nursing or Psychiatric/Behavioral Health, or with Mental Health Population, Counseling, Group Family Dynamics.
• Venipuncture experience
• EKG skills

Preferred Skills:

• N/A