Patient Care Aide

Description:

• Establish and maintain therapeutic relationships with patients/clients/families and provide support following established care plans; greets patients/clients/families, assists with storage of personal belongings and creation of a safe/comfortable environment, provides orientation of room and unit, and maintain confidentiality and respect for the patient’s rights and privacy.
• Assist in the delivery of nursing care under the functional direction of a Registered Nurse and performs duties such as recording of blood pressure, temperature, pulse, respiration, height and weight; administering sterile and/or non-sterile dressings; personal hygiene such as bathing, grooming, oral care and feeding as required; assisting clinicians in positioning and holding children during procedures; obtaining specimens such as urine.
• Respond to call bells/alarms by alerting the appropriate health care team member and/or assisting as necessary. Respond to emergent situations by calling appropriate code and assisting care team in accordance with unit/program guidelines.
• Observe and monitor patient/client progress, symptoms and behavioural changes and reports significant observations such as discomfort and/or pain, changes in vital signs, weight, body measurements, skin breakdowns, unusual incidents and/or accidents, and feedback from the client into the care planning progress to the Registered Nurse or designate.
• Utilize mechanical aides such as specialty beds, lifts, slide boards, mobilizers, wheelchairs and stretchers to transport clients; provide assistance with positioning, lifting and/or transferring clients utilizing established lifting/safety techniques, and accompanies patient/clients to provide assistance as required.
• Maintain a clean and safe environment; ensures call light/bell is within reach, makes beds, applies side-rail requirements, empties urine bags, handles workplace hazardous materials according to procedures, report all incidents, equipment problems and potential safety issues.
• Maintain supplies in utility areas, supply cupboards, resident washrooms, bedside tables and storage areas; check supply sheets to identify items and quantities required; notify others of depleting stock and replenishes accordingly; tidy supply cupboards, shelves and other areas as required.
• Prepare room for discharge cleaning and/or assists in room setup; remove bed linen and forwards to laundry, make beds, empty/clean fridge/s and remove extra supplies in accordance with established procedures. Clean equipment and toys in the shared space such as wipe washing exam tables, wall mounted exam equipment, blood pressure units, overhead lamps, measurement scales prior to the next patient.