Patient Care Aide — St. Paul's (Casual, 2024) - #94653

Position Overview:

In accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values, and strategic directions of Providence Health Care, the Patient Care Aide promotes a safe environment for patients, residents, families, visitors and staff.

Reporting to an Operations Leader and receiving work direction from a Registered Nurse (RN) or Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) or other designate, the Patient Care Aide:

• performs personal care duties for patients related to hygiene and grooming, eating, mobilization and other activities of daily living
• performs delegated nursing procedures on specific direction such as taking temperatures, pulse, respiration, administering suppositories and enemas, collecting urine and stool specimens
• observes patient’s behaviours and symptoms and documents observations in accordance with standard procedures
• assists in ensuring a safe patient environment
• reports significant observations to nurse or Unit Supervisor
• may be required to perform clerical, stocking, laundry and other related duties as required by unit.

Education
Grade 10, plus graduation from a recognized Resident Care Attendant Program and successful completion of an Acute Care Skills Program or three (3) months recent, related experience in an acute care environment, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

To work in a publicly funded health care organization, all care aides amust be registered with the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry.

Registration

To be eligible to work as a Patient Care Aide in any publicly funded health care setting in BC, applicants must be registered with the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry.

Skills and Abilities
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to deal with others effectively.
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.
• Ability to organize work.
• Ability to operate related equipment.

• Provides and/or assists with personal care and comfort for patients such as bathing, dressing, skin care, mouth care, pericare, and hair care according to the established care plan. Provides a safe and respectful environment for patients by following safety instructions as established on the patient care plan and PHC policies and procedures that include activities such as toileting, continence care, lifting and transferring, bathing, positioning and ambulating.
• Contributes to the overall evaluation of the patient and supports the continuity of care by methods such as observing patient’s behaviours and symptoms, documenting observations in accordance with standard procedures, recognizing and responding to anticipated/unanticipated patient responses to care, and reporting significant observations, concerns and/or related problems to delegated nursing staff in a timely way. Assesses potential emergency situations and intervenes as required.
• Assists patients with meals and nourishments by performing duties such as serving, setting up and collecting meal trays and feeding designated patients as established on the patient care plan and in accordance with PHC policies and procedures.
• Performs delegated nursing procedures on specific direction such as taking temperatures, pulse, respiration, administering suppositories and enemas, collecting urine and stool specimens.
• Maintains a safe work environment by performing duties such as ensuring call bell is within reach of patients and/or cleaning up spills and tiding patient rooms and common areas and cleaning furnishings and refrigerators in accordance with established procedures. Reports problems to designated nursing staff.
• Operates and/or cleans equipment related to patient care such as bathtubs, scales, mechanical lifts, bedpans, special mattresses and personal care items such as glasses, hearing aids and dentures
• Maintains or strives to maintain involvement of the patients and their significant other(s) in decisions that affect them through activities such as providing information, respecting personal choices, and providing opportunities to talk about their concerns.
• Transports patients utilizing mechanical aides such as wheelchairs and/or stretchers. Cleans and stores equipment such as wheelchairs and stretchers and reports any mechanical failure.
• Provides close, constant care or any other level of patient observation, as determined and assigned by the nursing staff. Alerts the designated nursing staff to any condition changes in a timely way.
• Checks and restocks supplies such as personal care supplies, nursing and housekeeping/laundry supplies, and assists in taking inventory.
• Performing laundry related duties such as gathering items for washing, loading and unloading and operating washers and dryers, changing bed linen, and folding and putting away items.
• Performs related clerical duties such as answering the telephone, taking and relaying messages, and assisting in maintaining standardized records.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

As per the current Public Health Orders (Long Term Care/Seniors Assisted Living Provincial Health Order and the Health Sector Order), as of October 26, 2021, all employees working for Providence Health Care must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Proof of vaccination status will be required.