Under Direct supervision from a Registered Nurse or other designated supervisor, provide direct patient care by performing delegated procedures of a specialized and technical nature, which may include; obtaining hemodynamic measurements, setting-up and maintaining specialized clinical equipment and performing delegated clinical or laboratory procedures, changing dressings, assisting with admitting and discharge procedures. Assist with complex procedures and perform complex diagnostic testing. Develop and recommend changes in patient care activities to improve the quality of patient care services. Under FLSA, incumbents in this position are non-exempt.
This position includes some clerical duties in order to support overflow spaces. Light clerical training is required and provided.
Central Staffing Resource Department PCTA's will:
- Staff all adult inpatient units (including ICUs) and overflow spaces
- Participate in CSR PCTA Frequent Rounding Program
- Staff as Video Monitor Tech
- Staff as Patient Attendant
- Perform modified clerical functions in the overflow areas along with usual PCTA duties
Observation/Monitoring
- Obtains vital signs, temperature, height/length, weight, oxygen saturation and pain scores; reports abnormal values to RN. Obtains other measurements (i.e., head circumference, abdominal girth) per unit standard.
- Responds to monitor alarms.
- Utilizes palpation/auscultation and Doppler to determine heart rate and blood pressure.
- Observes, monitors and reports the overt physical condition of assigned patient(s).
- Responds to physiologic monitor alarms based on unit training and competencies. Alarms should be silenced or paused prior to an activity that will trigger an alarm such as bathing, drawing blood or getting a patient out of bed as delegated by RN. Ensures that alarms are “on” when activity is completed and/or before leaving the patient.
- Measures and records intake and output.
- Functions as a patient attendant.
- Assists physician/provider during diagnostic procedures; assists and supports patient before and during procedures; assists in specimen collection.
- Applies and changes ECG electrodes and pulse ox probe; attaches patient to travel (ECG and A-line) monitor.
- Places monitor strips on inpatient records.
Specimen Collection
- Performs point of care testing; maintains and calibrates equipment and supplies.
- Collects blood specimens from arterial, CVP and PIC lines.
- Collects specimens, including urine, stool, sputum and swabs, and performs urine determination including sugar, acetone, specific gravity protein, pH.
- Performs finger/heel stick blood collection and chemstick test.
- Initiates, maintains and records 24-hour urine collection.
- Transports blood and laboratory specimens.
Intravenous Lines
- Discontinues peripheral IV’s.
- Removes peripheral IV dressings.
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