Patient Care Technician I

Job Requirements

Under the direction of professional nursing staff, the Patient Care Technician I provides direct patient care, including taking vital signs, checking surgical dressings, assisting with activities of daily living, performing blood draws, and collecting specimen samples. This role involves observing and communicating patient status to identify needs and deliver appropriate care, collaborating with the interdisciplinary healthcare team. Responsibilities include managing patient testing and care based on clinical findings, supporting admissions, transfers, and discharges, promoting patient safety and comfort, maintaining patient environments, providing wound and orthopedic device care, conducting blood glucose monitoring and catheter care, responding to patient alarms, and adhering to safety protocols. The technician also documents patient data, participates in hourly rounding, and contributes to optimizing patient outcomes and flow, performing all other duties as assigned.

Work Experience

Candidates for the Patient Care Technician I position must possess a high school diploma or equivalent, current Maryland state certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or Geriatric Nursing Assistant (GNA), and Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. While no prior experience is required, previous direct patient care experience in a healthcare facility is preferred. Successful candidates will demonstrate strong verbal and written communication skills, the ability to maintain effective interpersonal relationships and teamwork, and the capacity to prioritize tasks and perform multiple duties in stressful situations. Additionally, they should be proficient in learning and using computer systems, skilled in obtaining accurate blood glucose results and documenting findings, and capable of performing delegated nursing tasks with sensitivity to the age, culture, ethnicity, spirituality, and individual diagnostic needs of patients.