Patient Care Technician - PICU

Tasks

• Answer patient call signals, signal lights, bells, or intercom systems to determine patients' needs.

• Turn or reposition bedridden patients.

• Provide physical support to assist patients to perform daily living activities, such as getting out of bed, bathing, dressing, using the toilet, standing, walking, or exercising.

• Review patients' dietary restrictions, food allergies, and preferences to ensure patient receives appropriate diet.

• Measure and record food and liquid intake or urinary and fecal output, reporting changes to medical or nursing staff.

• Record vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration rate, as directed by medical or nursing staff.

• Gather information from caregivers, nurses, or physicians about patient condition, treatment plans, or appropriate activities.

• Observe or examine patients to detect symptoms that may require medical attention, such as bruises, open wounds, or blood in urine.

• Document or otherwise report observations of patient behavior, complaints, or physical symptoms to nurses.

• Remind patients to take medications or nutritional supplements.

• Feed patients or assist patients to eat or drink.

• Supply, collect, or empty bedpans.

• Undress, wash, and dress patients who are unable to do so for themselves.

• Lift or assist others to lift patients to move them on or off beds, examination tables, surgical tables, or stretchers.

• Communicate with patients to ascertain feelings or need for assistance or social and emotional support.

• Prepare or serve food trays.

• Clean and sanitize patient rooms, bathrooms, examination rooms, or other patient areas.

• Record height or weight of patients.

• Collect specimens, such as urine, feces, or sputum.

• Apply clean dressings, slings, stockings, or support bandages, under direction of nurse or physician.

• Change bed linens or make beds.

• Restock patient rooms with personal hygiene items, such as towels, washcloths, soap, or toilet paper.

• Exercise patients who are comatose, paralyzed, or have restricted mobility.

• Wash, groom, shave, or drape patients to prepare them for surgery, treatment, or examination.

• Assist nurses or physicians in the operation of medical equipment or provision of patient care.

• Administer medications or treatments, such as catheterizations, suppositories, irrigations, enemas, massages, or douches, as directed by a physician or nurse.

• Position or hold patients in position for surgical preparation.

• Transport patients to treatment units, testing units, operating rooms, or other areas, using wheelchairs, stretchers, or moveable beds.

• Provide information such as directions, visiting hours, or patient status information to visitors or callers.

• Transport specimens, laboratory items, or pharmacy items, ensuring proper documentation and delivery to authorized personnel.

• Set up treating or testing equipment, such as oxygen tents, portable radiograph (x-ray) equipment, or overhead irrigation bottles, as directed by a physician or nurse.

• Explain medical instructions to patients or family members.

• Stock or issue medical supplies, such as dressing packs or treatment trays.

Skills

• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

• Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

• Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

• Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.

Knowledge

• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

• Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

• Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

• Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

• Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

• Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.