Covenant Health

Patient Care Assistant, Senior Behavioral Health

Full Time, 72 Hours Per Pay Period, Day Shifts

Parkwest Overview:

Parkwest is West Knoxville’s premier medical facility and a top performing heart hospital. In addition to providing the area’s leading cardiac services, Parkwest has been nationally recognized for award-winning care throughout our facility. For 2020-21 Parkwest received recognition from U.S. News & World Report as one of the “Top 10” hospitals in Tennessee.

Senior Behavioral Health:

Our 16-bed Senior Behavioral Unit serves older adults ages 55 and older. We focus on the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of each patient. We provide services for a wide range of psychiatric diagnoses (including dementia, depression, suicide, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder). We provide stabilization in an acute care setting involving EKGs, daily labs, intravenous fluids, or antibiotics. We construct individualized treatment plans working in collaboration with physicians, families, recreational therapists, physical and occupational therapists, and social/case workers. Our goal is to ensure that the patient lives life to the fullest as they age. Patients are encouraged to participate in group therapy every day with fun and motivating activities. We take pride in creating a safe environment for both patients and staff.

 Educational opportunities are always encouraged to develop best practice skills including certifications, seminars, and de-escalation classes. Positive and energetic traits are a must for this fast-paced, team-centered unit.  Team members consist of RNs, LPNs, CNA/PCAs and Health Unit Coordinators who work together to provide exceptional care. Scheduling is a 6-week period. Staff work 3 days per week, 12-hour shifts, and every other weekend.   

We have a supportive environment and an orientation tailored to your needs. If you are looking for a work “home” then you have found the right floor! If you are passionate about Senior Behavior Health and putting patients first apply today!

Position Summary:

Functions as a direct patient caregiver performing tasks to assist registered nurses. Performs hands-on care, assistance with ADL’s and specified technical tasks for a group of patients under the supervision of the Team Leader.

Recruiter: Jason Shubert || jshuber1@covhlth.com || 865-374-5393

• Take and record temperature, pulse, respiration rates, blood pressures, weights, heights, and intake-output measurements.
• Encourage patients to turn, cough, and take deep breaths and to use incentive spirometry as specified by Plan of Care.
• Ambulate, and assist patients in and out of bed, into wheelchairs and transport when necessary.
• Attends to nutritional needs of patient which may include distributing meal trays, feeding, filling and passing out water pitchers,
• Provides morning or evening care, which may include bed bath, oral hygiene, combing hair, back care, dressing patient, changing bed linen, cleaning over-bed table and bedside stand, straightening room, and other supportive care as needed.
• Empty drains, canisters, urine bags, bedpans and emesis basins and record intake and output.
• Assists in maintaining a safe environment, which may include reporting equipment that is out of order, appropriate handling of linen and storing of supplies.
• Provides general care such as positioning, lifting or turning patients; assisting in use of bedpan, urinal or commode; preoperative supportive care; and application/removal of abdominal binders or anti-embolism stockings and sequential compression devices.
• Empty & clean ostomy bag, per procedure.
• Collect urine, stool and sputum specimen as ordered.
• Perform tasks such as ROM, assist with ambulatory devices as specified by the patients' plan of care.
• Perform phlebotomy (requires additional training). To include correct labeling using two patient identifiers, maintenance of lab-draw supplies, rotating and restocking.
• Perform EKG (requires special training).
• Promptly answer patient call lights and respond to patient requests.
• Report significant changes in patients' condition to RN.
• Help to maintain clean and orderly patient and work environment.
• Employ all established infection control policies including standard precautions, transmission-based isolation precautions, OSHA standards, safety measures and proper body mechanics in performance of job.
• Document/maintain patient record as appropriate.
• Gathers equipment for O2 set up. Checks O2 for connection and proper placement.
• Checks for proper functioning of equipment at patient bedside
• Ambulate patients with oxygen.
• Set up suction equipment and check for proper function.
• Demonstrates knowledge and competency in providing for age-specific needs of the population served.
• Demonstrates ability to perform skills on the Nursing Assistant checklist.
• Follows policies, procedures, and safety standards. Completes required education assignments annually. Works toward achieving goals and objectives, and participates in quality improvement initiatives as requested.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education:        

None specified; will accept any combination of formal education and/or prior work experience sufficient to demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skill and ability needed to perform the essential tasks of the job, typically such as would be equivalent to a high school diploma or GED. Preference may be given to individuals possessing a HS diploma or GED.

Minimum Experience:   

None

Licensure Requirement:   

CPR required