2025 Summer PCA Program - Communities In School/CNREP

2025 Summer PCA Program - Communities In School/CNREP

This program is through our partnership with Communities in Schools (CIS) and CNREP. Participants of this program are graduating seniors from a participating high school and must turn the age of 18 before the start of the program. For more details, contact your CIS representative.

At Houston Methodist, the Patient Care Assistant (PCA) Student position is a Community In Schools (CIS) student 8-week program in which incumbents should document, where applicable, care administered, diagnostic measurements, treatments and procedures and demonstrate the ability to continuously progress in basic knowledge and skills necessary to communicate appropriately and carry out delegated tasks for age-specific, diverse patient population. This position receives coaching from preceptors, Registered Nurses (RN) and management and performs delegated patient care tasks under the supervision of the RN. The Patient Care Assistant Extern position responds to the call light system and records data established by policy and procedure, and reports observations and patient problems to the licensed nurse. This position is responsible for assigned non-nursing functions. The Patient Care Assistant Extern position practices Patient and Family Centered Care in concert with Houston Methodist ICARE values.

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Promotes a positive work environment with the interprofessional care team. Participates in teamwork by responding positively to requests for assistance. Works well with others to make contributions to the work effort as a whole, escalating issues for problem resolution.

• Seeks guidance from interprofessional health care team, when needed, and applies feedback to improve patient outcomes. Follows channels of communication for effective problem solving.

• Conducts self in a manner that is congruent with cultural diversity, equity, and inclusion principles. Applies expected behaviors and actions with team members which contribute to improvement of department score for employee engagement, i.e., peer-to-peer accountability.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Follows the patient and family-centered care standards and provides direct patient care under the direction of a registered nurse. Responds to the call light system, contacting nursing personnel as appropriate, and follows through with meeting patient needs.

• Provides care to patients assigned within unit-specific, defined limits or serves as a sitter after validated specific competencies. Practices in a manner that is congruent with cultural diversity and inclusion principles.

• Assists with maintaining, cleaning, and stocking of equipment and supplies as established on assigned unit. May serve as an in-house courier which may include retrieving blood, hand delivering labs, tele boxes, etc.

• Applies expected behaviors and actions which contributes to department score for patient satisfaction.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Documents, where applicable, care administered, diagnostic measurements, treatments and procedures in accordance with established policies and procedures keeping the safety of the patient in mind. Provides care in a manner that is congruent with cultural diversity and inclusion principles.

• Reports observations, conditions and problems of patients to the licensed nurse. Provides for the privacy of patients and families, keeping the safety of the patient in mind.

• Applies expected behaviors and actions to improve quality and safety scores.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Applies expected behaviors and actions which contributes to meeting department financial targets.

• Utilizes resources with cost effectiveness and value creation in mind. Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks, minimizing incidental overtime, assisting coworkers as needed.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Seeks opportunities to identify self-development needs on knowledge base, skill level and decision-making, as necessary, especially in areas of question, from preceptor and assigned licensed personnel and takes appropriate action. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an on-going basis.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION

• High School diploma or equivalent education (examples include: GED, verification of homeschool equivalency, partial or full completion of post-secondary education, etc.) or Community In Schools (CIS) or Wesley House program incumbents enrolled in a state-approved Certified Nursing Assistant program within one month of hire.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• None