Patient Care Assistant - Float Pool - Full Time 12 Hour Nights (Non-Exempt) (Union)

The University of Southern California’s Keck Hospital of USC is hiring a Patient Care Assistant for its float pool. This full-time, on-site role works 12-hour nights in a union environment, based in Los Angeles, California. It’s a good fit for someone who enjoys hands-on patient care, teamwork with nursing staff, and keeping multiple units running smoothly. Keck Hospital is a 343-bed acute care facility known for advanced, compassionate care and ongoing clinical research within USC’s academic medical center.

In this position you’ll support nursing staff by helping deliver patient care, handling routine tasks that keep the unit organized and safe, and assisting with equipment setup and maintenance. The emphasis of your duties can shift depending on the unit you’re assigned to, so you’ll need to be flexible and ready to respond to a range of patient needs as they arise throughout the shift.

A shift across the floor

On a day or night, you’ll respond to patient calls quickly, anticipate needs, and help with essential care activities such as vital signs, daily weights, intake and output, hygiene, feeding, and mobility. You’ll assist with turning patients, transfers from bed to chair, and providing fresh water to patients at the start and during the shift. You’ll keep patient rooms clean, organized, and stocked with the supplies they require, while also safeguarding the use and function of medical equipment and safety tools like call lights and accessibility features. Documentation of care, vitals, intake/output, meal participation, and equipment used will be done consistently, and you’ll communicate plans and any changes in patient conditions to the RN or Charge Nurse in a timely, clear way. You’ll participate in the unit’s daily flow and collaborate with the RN from the start of the shift to ensure care is carried out according to the plan of care and in line with hospital policies. You’ll also help maintain regulatory readiness and patient confidentiality throughout the shift.

What you’ll bring to USC

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Aged care or clinical support certification: Certified Nursing Assistant credential issued by the California Department of Public Health
• Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers from the American Heart Association
• LA City Fire Life Safety Training; if you don’t have it at hire, you’ll need to obtain it within 30 days and renew before it expires (this requirement applies to LA City workers)
• Clear English communication skills, both spoken and written

• One year of healthcare setting experience is preferred but not required

Pay, benefits and practical details

The position pays $22.88 to $38.90 per hour. It’s a full-time, 12-hour night role in USC’s float pool, performed on-site at Keck Hospital of USC in Los Angeles. The job is non-exempt and part of a union environment. USC describes itself as an equal opportunity employer and notes that it will consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or other protected characteristics. Background screening is in place, and USC provides accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities; inquiries can be directed to USC Human Resources at (213) 821-8100 or [email protected]. Current USC employees who are applying can use the Workday link below to submit their application.

Keck Hospital of USC is part of a major academic medical center where many clinical trials are conducted, giving patients access to pioneering therapies. The hospital’s clinicians focus on delivering compassionate, patient-centered care across a broad range of specialties, while maintaining a commitment to safety and orderly operations on every unit.

Advice for applicants

Put your CNA credential and BLS certification up top on your resume, along with your high school diploma and English communication skills. These are the must-haves USC lists for this role, so make them easy to spot and verify.

Back up the must-haves with concrete examples. In your resume and interview, point to times you supported patient care tasks like vitals, hygiene, feeding, mobility, and documentation, and show how you’ve collaborated with RNs and charge nurses to carry out the plan of care and report changes quickly.

Be ready to describe how you’d handle the shift’s patient flow, including early rounds, prioritization of needs, and maintaining safety in a busy unit. Talk through how you stay organized while switching between units as part of the float pool and how you protect patient confidentiality and correct documentation during busy periods.

Ask a focused question about the float pool and unit rotations. For instance, you could ask how often assignments rotate between units, what supports exist for acclimating to new units, and what training USC provides to help you adapt quickly while staying compliant with infection control and safety policies.

How to apply

If you’re a current USC employee, apply through Workday by using this link: https://wd5.myworkday.com/usc/d/inst/1$9925/9925$153011.htmld