Patient Care Companion – Behavioral Health

Patient Care Companion – Behavioral Health

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED equivalent
• Good communication skills
• Courteous and professional interpersonal skills
• Highly compassionate
• Basic reading skills
• Current CPR

Responsibilities

• Ensures a secure and safe environment by maintaining a continued awareness of safety hazards and observation of the patient
• Follows established policies and procedures for precautions, i.e., suicide, seizure, falls, elopement, restraining, provides restraint alternatives when appropriate; i.e., diversional activities
• Follows established policies and procedures for emergency plans and codes
• Accompanies assigned patient at all times, i.e., walks in the hallway to various ancillary departments, bathroom, shower, etc.
• Never leaves assigned patient unattended, ensures that patient is continuously monitored before leaving room, i.e., breaks, end of shift, to accompany patient on transport
• Provides general patient care duties that are specific to the patient(s) served as directed by the registered nurse
• Provides am or pm care to include making occupied or unoccupied bed, bed bath, oral and denture care, shave back rub, and skin care
• Assists patient with ordered activity, i.e., ambulation, getting up to chair and back to bed, positioning, etc.
• Assists with toileting needs of the patient including care of the incontinent patient and proper diaper usage; demonstrates awareness of patients with high risk of skin breakdown
• Ensures special patient supplies and appliances are provided and maintained such as TED hose, sequential compression devices, K-pads, cooling mattresses, etc.
• When assigned to general floor duty, responds to call lights and communicates all patient requests in a timely manner to the registered nurse
• Performs tasks related to meeting the nutritional needs of the patient
• Reviews dietary order and tray to ensure the patient is receiving the proper diet, communicates need for reordering to the registered nurse
• Assists patient with meals, feeding if needed
• Provides proper tray set-up and patient positioning with consideration to special needs
• Assists patient in menu selection
• Provides accurate information to registered nurse for intake/output
• When assigned to general floor duty, assists in tray distribution and passing of waters/juices as directed by registered nurse; pick-up trays of patients who are not on intake/output or caloric monitoring
• Maintains patient confidentiality at all times
• Communicates with patients, families, and other health professionals in a positive and respectful manner
• Supports patient/family teaching by working with all members of the health care team and seeks out the registered nurse when clinical information is requested, notifies the RN when family questions arise
• Contributes to the patient plan of care through the documentation of communication of patient needs and outcomes to the health care provider as appropriate
• Documents patient information on Treatment Flowsheet (safety, cares and activity)
• Communicates patient needs and observed changes in assigned patients’ behavior to RN caring for patient
• Communicates a verbal change of shift report on assigned patients to RN caring for patient and oncoming Patient Care Companion
• Acts as a patient/family advocate by providing comfort, assistance, and information as appropriate, assists in the orientation of the patient and family to the environment
• Demonstrates awareness of the patient’s plan of care, i.e., activity, diet, diversional needs, family and social issues
• Performs tasks related to maintaining the integrity of patient care standards and efficient unit operations
• Demonstrates ability to respond to emergency situations
• Maintains and develops technical skills by attending mandatory yearly inservices
• Practices within the policies and procedures of infection control by properly disposing of contaminated materials and utilizing proper attire when in direct contact with the patient in isolation

Preferred Qualifications

No preferred qualifications provided.