Main Responsibilities and Required Skills for Patient Care Technician
A Patient Care Technician is responsible for providing help,support and comfort to patients. They take and record vital signs and prepare initial patient chart for admission. In this blog post we describe the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Patient Care Technicians.
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Main Responsibilities of Patient Care Technician
The following list describes the typical responsibilities of a Patient Care Technician:
Adhere to
Adhere to nursing and administrative policies and procedures.
Adhere to the infant security protocol (accurate assessment of band placement).
Aid with
Aid with entry and exit of patients.
Aid with movement and placement of patients.
Ambulate
Ambulate patients and instruct on walker, cane and crutch walking as appropriate for assigned unit.
Answer
Answer and responds to patient call lights and requests in a timely manner.
Answer phones, responds to questions, and return calls as necessary.
Answer questions, following HIPAA guidelines while in the front area.
Anticipate
Anticipate and respond to customer needs.
Apply
Apply cardiac monitor / oximetry.
Apply comfort and safety measures (side rails and call lights).
Apply dressings to Stage I and Stage II skin breakdown.
Apply Fetal Monitor equipment on pregnant patients.
Apply special equipment for safety.
Assist in / Assist with
Assist in orientation of new hires.
Assist in screening patients for pain using appropriate pain scale.
Assist in the care of patients at risk or with actual skin breakdown.
Assist in the maintenance of a safe and clean working environment.
Assist in use and care of assistive devices, prosthetics and or equipment.
Assist or feeds patients as necessary.
Assist patients in ambulating.
Assist patients to perform ADL's (bathing, dressing, toileting, and grooming).
Assist patients with tending to personal care and activities of daily living.
Assist patient with supply management and contacting customer service.
Assist with exit site care when directed by HT RN.
Assist with patient feeding.
Assist with pre-and post-operative care.
Assist with procedures in the normal newborn nursery as directed.
Assist with registration of patients and answer telephone calls.
Assist with the implementation of a patient specific care plan.
Assist with the preparation of the exam room to receive patients.
Assume
Assume other duties and responsibilities that are related and appropriate to the position and area.
Assume responsibility for meeting mandatory requirements.
Attend
Attend in-service and continuing education offerings in compliance with company policy and procedure.
Attend in services, unit meetings and conferences.
Calculate
Calculate patient's weight loss to reach dry weight.
Carry out
Carry out assigned tasks and activities on a shift basis, as delegated by the RN.
Check
Check designated equipment for proper functioning.
Clean
Clean and organize the clinic space daily.
Clean, disinfect, and rinse dialysis machines in accordance with policy and procedures.
Clean, set up and restock exam rooms.
Collaborate with
Collaborate with a nursing team to provide quality patient care.
Collaborate with a registered nurse on developing a patient's care plan.
Collect
Collect clinical data and compile statistics.
Collect payments and log in the EMR.
Collect and inventories patient belongings on admission, transfer and discharge.
Collect, label specimens and ensures timely delivery to laboratory per facility policy.
Collect treatment records and review for completion.
Communicate
Communicate positively and professional with all internal and external customers.
Communicate with and supports the health care team, patient and / or family significant other(s).
Complete
Complete all Occupational Health requirements per policy and procedure.
Complete all tasks or report the inability to complete the task.
Complete and document ongoing participation in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities.
Complete charges using appropriate documentation.
Complete CHEX requirements.
Complete / document quality control logs throughout the day and after all treatments, as required.
Complete other duties as assigned.
Compliant
Compliant with PPD requirements.
Conduct
Conduct all tasks necessary for preparation for dialysis treatment and document where appropriate.
Confer
Confer with appropriate personnel concerning unanticipated or unfamiliar problems.
Contribute to
Contribute to a positive work environment.
Count
Count instruments and sterile trays sent and received from SEP as appropriate for assigned unit.
Determine
Determine patient care priorities and organizes work load efficiently and effectively.
Develop
Develop and maintains effective relationships through effective and timely communication.
Develop email alerts and reports to send digitally to clinicians at Skilled Nursing Facilities.
Document
Document necessary records.
Draw
Draw dialysate solution for testing as directed by the HT RN.
Ensure
Ensure collection of lab specimens by appropriate lab courier.
Ensure neatness and cleanliness of patient rooms and maintains patient care items.
Ensure the patient environment is clean and clutter free.
Enter
Enter all treatment data into the designated clinical application accurately and in a timely manner.
Escort
Escort the patient to the exam room and determine the patient's chief complaint.
Evaluate
Evaluate the patient for prior to discharge and report any unusual findings to nurse supervisor.
Evaluate the patient prior to discharge and reports any unusual findings to the FMCNA RN.
Evaluate vascular access for patency and report any unusual findings to nurse supervisor.
File
File home patient packing slips / invoices.
Follow
Follow directions precisely and maintain confidentiality.
Follow established policies, procedures and standards of care in all areas of practice.
Follow up until needs are met.
Greet
Greet any customers or potential patients while in the front area or near the clinic.
Hand
Hand hygiene and consistent use of standard precautions.
Help
Help maintain a neat orderly environment.
Identify
Identify opportunities to improve clinical and administrative processes.
Implement
Implement the patient plan of care under the supervision of licensed personnel.
Inform
Inform family of other clinical resources.
Inform patient / guardian of collection process according to procedure.
Initiate
Initiate Solution Delivery System (SDS) system.
Investigate
Investigate and handle improperly labeled specimens, requisition problems and inadequate specimens.
Keep
Keep patient rooms clean, orderly, and maintains medical equipment.
Lift
Lift and turn patients with proper and safe body mechanics and available resources.
Maintain
Maintain and demonstrates high standards of professional ethics.
Maintain and tracks inventory.
Maintain a safe and clean environment.
Maintain clean and orderly work environment as assigned.
Maintain confidentiality of patients, families, and staff.
Maintain credentialing needs and skills necessary to work in technician role on their unit.
Maintain environmental integrity and aesthetics - ensure all areas are safe and clean.
Maintain ethical / legal standards.
Maintain inventory, requisitions, and stocks work area supplies and equipment.
Maintain logs as directed and applicable.
Maintain logs, files and records.
Maintain par levels of home department supplies.
Maintain patient confidentiality and privacy.
Maintain professional working relationship, observing patient privacy and rights.
Maintain regulatory and departmental level competencies.
Maintain satisfactory time and attendance.
Maintain simple laboratory equipment and notify main lab and / or supervisor of unresolved problems.
Maintain, troubleshoot and make minor repairs to ECG machines.
Make
Make appropriate decisions, using sound judgment.
Make occupied and unoccupied beds.
Make rounds of patients and anticipates their needs and observes newborns in the nursery.
Measure
Measure and record intake (fluid / food) and output (bodily functions / bodily drainage).
Meet
Meet Joint Commission / DOH documentation requirements for clinic area.
Monitor
Monitor and maintain daily records of laboratory equipment as required.
Monitor patients during dialysis treatments.
Monitor patients' response to dialysis therapy and report any unusual findings to nurse supervisor.
Monitor waiting room and ensure families are kept informed of delays.
Observe
Observe patient, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Observe and report abnormal skin condition following established policy and procedures.
Observe proper body mechanics while performing work area duties and patient care.
Obtain
Obtain necessary pre and post treatment vital signs and weight.
Obtain and record patient vital signs and machine readings according to facility policies.
Obtain capillary blood glucose for adults and / or neonates.
Obtain necessary equipment and supplies to facilitate patient care.
Obtain necessary pre and post treatment vital signs and weight.
Offer
Offer brochures for specific health care needs of the family.
Order
Order routine lab / POCT inventory and supplies.
Order supplies on-line or appropriate requisitions and stocks in appropriate location.
Orient
Orient new staff and students to work areas.
Orient the family at the time of the visit to the clinic environment, paperwork, etc..
Participate
Participate actively a member of the patient care team.
Participate in continuing education opportunities available internally and / or externally.
Participate in monthly screening events.
Participate in off site events as needed.
Participate in other activities which are essential to the functioning of the patient care unit.
Participate in staff meetings as required.
Pass
Pass and collect bed pans.
Perform
Perform activities as assigned and demonstrates competency in them.
Perform additional duties as assigned.
Perform administration of Heparin as delegated or as allowed by state law.
Perform all relevant functions necessary for the discontinuation of treatment - document.
Perform all required pretreatment dialysis machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding (PHT).
Performance
Performance Improvement / Problem-solving.
Perform
Perform a variety of functions in the clinical setting.
Perform a variety of related clerical duties.
Perform competency and proficiency challenges in a timely manner.
Perform continual observation.
Perform delegated tasks of patient care under the direct supervision of a registered nurse.
Perform E.C.G.'S, Venipuncture and Capillary Collections on Inpatients and Outpatients.
Perform EKG's (telemetry monitoring).
Perform, evaluate and report QC protocol.
Perform intentional hourly rounding and documents per unit requirements.
Perform non sterile dressing changes.
Perform normal newborn hearing screening.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Perform procedures safely and accurately within the standards of practice.
Perform responsible clerical duties including front desk registration and answering phone calls.
Perform vascular access evaluation pre-treatment and report unusual findings to nurse supervisor.
Prepare
Prepare initial patient chart for admission and compile paperwork for appropriate placement in chart.
Prepare lab requisitions for prescribed or stat Lab specimens according to laboratory destination.
Prepare machines for hemodialysis treatments.
Prepare, organize, and efficiently utilize supplies and equipment to prevent wastage.
Prepare patient room for MD or RN assessment, evaluation, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
Prepare patients for meals.
Prepare patients for meals and assists patients with eating, if required.
Prepare reports and document laboratory results in patient records.
Prepare supplies for event, registering patients, etc..
Prioritize
Prioritize tasks and special requests.
Process
Process specimens by centrifugation, aliquoting and sorting into specific test areas and for storage.
Promote
Promote and assist in meeting Total Area Productivity goals (TAP).
Promote and assist in the maintenance of a safe and clean working environment.
Prompt
Prompt patients to answer health questions and complete forms.
Provide
Provide an accurate, thorough and timely report of patient condition to health care personnel.
Provide encouragement, support and comfort to patients and family members.
Provide morning care, bed baths and evening care according to established Nursing Care Procedures.
Provide patient education.
Provide peri-care to appropriate patients.
Provide service in a willing and courteous manner.
Provide technical assistance during examination, anticipating instrument needs.
Put
Put together weekly order for supplies for provider's approval.
Recognize
Recognize abnormalities and report such to the Registered Nurse or Provider.
Recognize and immediately reports values outside normal parameters to the nurse.
Reinforce
Reinforce the teaching of individuals and groups of patients.
Report
Report any change or unusual findings to the nurse supervisor.
Report any complaints or observations to the nurse supervisor.
Report findings or changes in physical, mental and emotional conditions to nursing staff.
Report problems to main lab and / or supervisory staff.
Report all patient activity to the registered nurse in a timely manner.
Report any complaints or observations to the FMCNA RN.
Report findings or changes in physical, mental and emotional conditions to nursing staff.
Report unsafe conditions to Supervisor in a timely manner.
Report unusual findings to FMCNA RN.
Report unusual findings to nurse supervisor.
Respond to
Respond to emergency situations, secures assistance and initiates basic life support.
Respond to patient call lights in a timely manner, especially emergency lights.
Schedule
Schedule and contact patients regarding appointments.
Set-up
Set-up and break down delivery table.
Set-up oxygen and suction equipment and other respiratory equipment for adults and / or neonates.
Set-up of the home hemo machine and PD Cycler.
Speak up
Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance.
State
State normal parameters of treatments / procedures carried out in role.
Stock
Stock and remove linen from patient rooms.
Take
Take and records vital signs, weights and I & O.
Transfer
Transfer and transport patients as desired.
Troubleshoot
Troubleshoot specimen-processing procedures.
Understand
Understand age specific and cultural diversity principles within their scope of practice.
Understand and consistently demonstrates principles of 'Patients First' philosophy.
Use
Use appropriate safety measures including personal protective equipment as necessary.
Utilize
Utilize the Patient Care Technician PERK system.
Weigh
Weigh patient and obtain vital signs.
Welcome
Welcome assigned patients and inquires as to their well-being since their last treatment.
Work
Work in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Work is monitored by supervisor / manager.
Work under the supervision of a RN to deliver patient care.
Most In-demand Hard Skills
The following list describes the most required technical skills of a Patient Care Technician:
Needles
CHT
CMA
Final Home Clinic Placement
Health Care
Phlebotomy Certification
Computer
Hospital Environment
Bend Over
Hospital Setting
Prolonged Periods of Standing
Exerting Up To 15 Pounds of Force
Life Support
Lift Basis Up To 40 Lbs.
Prep Charts
Push And / Or Pull Equipment
Nursing
Most In-demand Soft Skills
The following list describes the most required soft skills of a Patient Care Technician:
Written and oral communication skills
Interpersonal skills
Critical thinker
