Full-Time Nursing Assistant/Patient Care Technician - Medical Oncology

Join UPMC Shadyside’s Medical Oncology Team!

• Nursing Assistants/Patient Care Technicians: Full-Time at 36 hours a week rotating day/night shifts, or straight nights
• Unit: 6 Main Medical Oncology
• About UPMC Shadyside: A Magnet-designated teaching hospital with ongoing research and education

About 6 Main

• Specialized Focus: Wide range of oncological diagnoses, forefront of cancer research
• Patient Care: Primarily serves lymphoma patients, administer chemotherapy and biological treatments

About the Role

Nursing Assistants and Patient Care Technicians provide routine patient care and support the department services in accordance with established policies and procedures. This role will be directed by nurses and/or physicians to ensure that the highest degree of quality patient care can be maintained at all times. Patient care duties may include, but are not limited to, ADLs (bathing, feeding, transporting, toileting, ambulating, turning and repositioning patients, and blood glucose), vital signs, simple dressings, EKGs, bladder scans, and all specimen collections.

Core Duties : You’ll play an important role in caring for cancer patients by helping with daily needs like bathing, toileting, and mobility. You’ll support the nursing team by checking vital signs, tracking intake and output, keeping patient records up to date in the electronic medical record, and assisting patients with various tasks. Most importantly, you’ll be there to provide comfort, dignity, and hands-on care that makes a real difference in a patient’s day.

Perks and Quirks : You will be required to be on your feet most of the shift. A large part of the position requires helping patients move, bathe, and go to the bathroom. For our cancer patients, you may have to empty and measure urinary drainage and collect other specimens for testing. You will be provided with the appropriate PPE and training to do your job well and safely.

Work Environment : Most of your work will occur in the patient room. You will work under the direction of the Nursing staff. You will have assigned tasks, and the Nurses will also delegate additional work to you.

Technology Use : Some of your training will be completed through online modules using unit-provided computers. You will regularly use point of care machines to collect vital signs and blood sugars and will frequently navigate patients’ electronic health records. Important information is communicated by leaders via email, which you are expected to check each shift. You will be assigned a phone each day for communicating with patients and coworkers. Personal cell phones are not permitted in patient care areas. You may use your personal phone only during your assigned breaks.

UPMC's Nursing Support Career Ladder:

Our goal at UPMC is to help you build YOUR career, starting with our robust career ladder! A Nursing Support career at UPMC Shadyside maximizes your potential and advances you to wherever you’d like to go, ensuring that you are equipped with resources, mentors, and leadership along the way.

The UPMC Inpatient Patient Care Support Career Ladder offers opportunities for continued growth and advancement. Title and salary will be determined based upon education and patient care experience. The starting pay for a Nursing Assistant is $19.40 .

Nursing Support Training:

Patient Care Support training is required for all Nursing Assistants and Patient Care Technicians. Your skills will be assessed on day 1 to determine how much training will be needed on an individual basis, but plan for three full days of training (Monday - Wednesday).

Responsibilities

• Perform in accordance with system-wide competencies/behaviors.
• Report equipment malfunctions to the appropriate department.
• Establish effective communication strategies and respectful relationships.
• Contribute to universal unit activities (e.g., responding to call lights, passing meal trays, transporting patients)
• Receive feedback constructively and identify learning needs.
• Improve knowledge, skills, and performance.
• Communicate effectively with the healthcare team.
• Demonstrate cultural understanding and safety awareness.
• Perform nursing core responsibilities for nursing assistants (ADLs, point-of-care testing, vital signs, etc.).
• Provide direct patient care as directed by RN.
• Maintain a safe patient environment.
• Distribute supplies and equipment.
• Document in medical records and comply with safety policies.
• Successful completion of UPMC nursing assistant or EIC training program or Successful completion of UPMC patient care technician class.
• Knowledge of body mechanics and transfer techniques.
• Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing.
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) preferred.
• Access to medications is limited to the distribution of the medication to the nurse.
• Nursing Assistant:
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Patient Care Technician:
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 1 year of healthcare experience, OR completion of at least one clinical rotation as part of a nursing or PT/OT/PA program or related health care training, OR completion of a Bachelor’s Degree in a health sciences field.
• Patient Care Technician - Senior:
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 2 years of healthcare experience, OR 1 year of experience plus completion of at least one clinical rotation as part of a nursing or PT/OT/PA program or related health care training, OR 1 year of experience and completion of a Bachelor’s Degree in a health sciences field.
• Annual completion of a professional contribution to be determined after hire.
• Successful completion of Senior training class.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances

• Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• CPR required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire
• Act 34