University of Washington Human Resources

Patient Care Technician

UW CODE AND REPRESENTATIVE GROUP

CLASS SERIES CONCEPT

Provide assistance to medical and nursing staff by performing tasks involving direct and indirect patient care, including capillary blood glucose checks, treatments, transportation, and clerical tasks.

BASIC FUNCTION

Under general supervision, perform routine tasks involving direct and indirect patient care, including capillary blood glucose checks, treatments, transportation, and various clerical tasks.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is a stand-alone class. Under general supervision, perform routine tasks involving direct and indirect patient care, treatment, and transportation such as assisting patients with activities of daily living; preparing patients for surgery; performing non-invasive tests such as electrocardiogram tests, stool guaiac test and bladder scanning. Remove foley catheters and peripheral IV. Perform capillary blood glucose checks; assisting with treatments, transporting patients, equipment and supplies. Perform various clerical tasks such as collecting data, ordering supplies, answering phones, recording messages or referring calls, data entry, photocopying, and completing forms.

TYPICAL WORK

Observe, document, and report changes in patient activity and/or symptoms such as vital signs, respiration, mental status, discomfort, intake, output, weight, and bleeding;

Respond to internal and external emergencies and hospital codes including behavioral emergencies; assist in applying restraints; initiate CPR; alert RNs of alarms sounding;

Assist with or prepare patient for transport including moving patient to and from bed to gurney or wheelchair; transition patients various monitors and oxygen for transport;

Perform non-invasive tests such as electrocardiogram testing and bladder scanning. Remove foley catheters and peripheral IV;

Perform capillary blood glucose checks and report results to a Registered Nurse;

Transport patients, patient belongings and valuables, blood products, supplies, pharmaceuticals, x-ray films, and equipment and specimens to and from various locations; assist patients, including infants, to and from vehicles; stay with patients at destination until someone receives them; transport and prepare for use medical gas tanks such as oxygen and nitrogen; perform morgue transport;

Assist patients with activities of daily living including bathing, eating, fluid intake, shampooing hair, oral care, skin care, perineal care, toileting, turning, and ambulation;

Observe and report threats to patient safety and intervene appropriately. Maintain a safe and clean environment of care at all times. Keep patient room free of clutter. Follow all applicable infection control guidelines such as hand hygiene and gowning and gloving when required.

Acknowledge patient inquiries; respond or refer inquiries appropriately;

Answer patient call lights; determine nature of problem; respond within scope and/or obtain appropriate resources;

Assist physicians and nurses with basic non-sterile wound care and patient procedures;

Assist families and visitors in finding staff to address concerns, safeguarding patient confidentiality and privacy;

Dispatch transporters;

Track the location of patients (arrival and departure) and procedures performed or to be performed; relay information to patient care staff;

Stock supplies and equipment; conduct equipment inventory; locate missing equipment; take defective equipment to repair area; complete a defective equipment tag, or identify and report repair needs; help with quality assurance on processors, monitors and other equipment;

Perform clerical duties such as collection of data, supply ordering, answering phones, recording messages, or referring call to appropriate person/area, data entry, photocopying, and completing forms;

Make beds; remove soiled linen and garbage as needed;

Orient new Patient Care Technicians, students, and other patient care providers;

Serve on task forces and committees;

Perform related duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Nursing Assistant-Certified (NAC) with the State of Washington.

AND

High School graduation and six months experience involving direct patient care or customer service in a health care setting; OR equivalent education/experience.

CLASSIFICATION HISTORY

04/01/2010: New Class
01/01/2022: Added job codes for WFSE HMC bargaining unit
07/01/2022: Updated legal requirement and responsibilities