Nursing Assistant / Patient Care Technician – Neuro / Trauma Units at UPMC Presbyterian

Are you looking to establish a fulfilling, hands-on health care career while elevating the patient experience? As a Nursing Assistant or Patient Care Technician with UPMC Presbyterian, you’ll make a meaningful difference on our team by working with our Life Changers to provide high-quality patient care. 

The Neuro / Trauma Service Line at UPMC Presbyterian is a dynamic service supporting the hospital’s Comprehensive Stroke Certification as well as the Level 1 Trauma designation. The units in this service line include: 5G, 6D, 7F, 8D, 8G, 9G, and 12D. These units care for any patient with an acute injury of the brain or spinal cord as well as provide the post operative care for the neurosurgical patient population.

• 7F Trauma is a 13-bed surgical step-down unit with private rooms, serving general surgical patients as well as trauma and toxicological patients
• 9G Trauma is a 24-bed trauma and general surgical unit that also receives overflow orthopedic trauma and neurological trauma patients
• 12D Trauma is a 23-bed surgical unit serving general surgical patients as well as toxicological and trauma patients. In addition to the broad variety of post-op patients we care for, we also receive overflow vascular and medical patients. 
• 5G Neuro Trauma is a 22-bed progressive care unit specializing in the care of complex brain and spinal cord trauma, stroke, and various neurosurgical patients.  Our nurses focus their care comprehensively on the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of our patients and their support systems.  We foster relationships and emphasize patient advocacy across the interdisciplinary care team to ensure best possible outcomes for those in our care.  5G is a fast-paced environment offering the opportunity for nurses to gain valuable knowledge and experience working with a diverse and complex patient population.  
• 6D Neurosurgery is an 18-bed neurosurgical unit specializing in the care of patients recovering from spinal surgeries and craniotomies as well as accepting overflow stroke population. We foster a positive and supportive environment, emphasizing strong teamwork and the sharing of knowledge among all disciplines to ensure the best possible outcomes.
• 8D Neurosurgery is a 17-bed acuity adaptable neurosurgical unit, primarily caring for adults with brain tumor, spinal cord injury, head injury, and stroke. Our patients have often undergone craniotomies for conditions such as brain hemorrhage or tumor, biopsies, lumbar laminectomies and spinal discectomies, lumbar drain insertion, and external ventricular drains. We have numerous discharges and admissions each day, making for a fast pace of work.
• 8G Neuroscience / Neuro Trauma is is a 23-bed progressive care neuro trauma unit caring for neurologic and neurosurgical patients, stroke patients, trauma and neurovascular patients. Many of our patients are epileptic; epilepsy grid placement and SPECT scanning are common procedures on 8G.

Nursing Support roles are required to work rotating shifts, which include daylight, evening, overnight, weekend, and holiday shifts. Nursing Assistants and Patient Care Technicians will also be required to work 12-hour shifts, with a possibility of a combination of 8-hour and 12-hour shifts.

All hired candidates will complete a mandatory training course. This is a paid training program that spans over two weeks. The main program is weekdays only and daylight hours, with a combination of virtual and in-person days. Attendance is mandatory for the entire training. A one-day training is available on Saturdays for those who have completed a clinical rotation in a hospital or have specific transferable in-patient/hospital experience.

The 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.

Responsibilities:

• Must routinely perform the UPMC nursing core nursing assistant responsibilities, including ADLs (bathing, feeding, transporting, toileting, ambulating, and turning and repositioning patients), PLUS point of care testing (inc. blood glucose), weights, vital signs, I&O, telemetry monitor application/reapplication, HAC & PSI prevention (TEDs/SCDs), and clean catch/mini catheter urine collection. In addition, simple dressings, 12 lead EKG, bladder scan, all specimen collections.
• Ensures equipment malfunctions are reported to the appropriate department.
• Establishes professional and respectful interpersonal relationships.
• Contributes to the universal unit activities including, but not limited to, responding to call lights and telephones, passing meal trays, and transporting patients.
• Demonstrates the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with all members of the health care team.
• Demonstrate understanding of cultural diversity, horizontal violence, and impairment in the health professions.
• Cares for patients and self by supporting safety in the workplace.
• Develops and maintains productive working relationships internally and externally by demonstrating accountability for actions, enthusiasm, motivation, and commitment to patients and colleagues.
• Provides patient care, including assisting with patient procedures and activities of daily living.
• Assists with physical, respiratory, and cardiopulmonary therapies.
• Provides feedback to the RN regarding patient care and reports changes in patient status.
• Provides instruction to patients and their families under the direction of the RN.
• May apply, monitor, and remove patient restraints as per physician or hospital protocol.
• Strictly adheres to all policies and procedures relative to patient care and hospital-related information.
• Complies with safety policies and procedures, including standard precautions.
• Documents in the medical record according to established procedures.
• Performs assigned work in a timely and productive manner.
• Completes department clerical functions, as needed.

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 Presbyterian 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. Our career ladder includes Nursing Assistant > Patient Care Technician > Patient Care Technician, Senior/Specialist > Lead Patient Care Technician.

Job title and salary will be based upon qualifications and career ladder requirements: