General Summary: The Monitor Technician assists the nursing department in the care of the patients by monitoring cardiac rhythms and is responsible for the daily maintenance of the Cardiac Monitoring log, notification of changes in patient condition as related to cardiac rhythm, oxygenation saturation and reporting changes to the assigned nurse. The Monitor Technician is actively involved in department activities, transdisciplinary team activities, and LifeCare activities to ensure individualized, patient-centered health care for all patient populations admitted to LifeCare Hospital.
Patient Population: Has contact with patients in a clinical setting; understands and demonstrates appropriate behavior when interacting with patients in the adult (18-65 years of age) and geriatric (65 and older) populations.
Supervision: Not applicable.
Standard Essential Functions
1. The knowledge and skills necessary to perform the position requirements are demonstrated through the successful completion of competencies established for the position, to include population served and other special needs of patients or customers, served by the department.
2. Adheres to LifeCare policies, procedures, all safety plans, and all standards imposed by regulatory organizations.
3. Regular attendance and timeliness is required.
Job Specific Essential Functions
1. Monitors and interprets patients’ cardiac rhythms, rates and/or oxygen saturation, reporting changes to the assigned nurse. Interprets telemetry recordings to determine patients’ cardiac rhythm and rates. Reports dysrhythmias, abnormalities and/or significant changes from baseline and reports changes immediately to the assigned nurse. Documents interpretations and maintains individual patient records.
2. Prioritizes and works independently in organizing the nursing unit station, keeping the station clean and presentable. Plans/organizes work for assigned shift to properly utilize time, resources, and supplies to ensure that patients receive appropriate quality care.
3. Serves as liaison between physicians, staff members and other departments. Communicates effectively with all members of the transdisciplinary team, patients, families, and visitors.
4. Maintains unit records, logbooks and unit supplies as related to the usage and maintenance of the telemetry monitoring system.
5. Additional duties may be assigned that deviate from cardiac monitoring pending the monitoring duties are reassigned to other telemetry certified/registered personnel including Nursing.
Values
- We COLLABORATE: We develop our treatment plans in collaboration with physicians, clinicians, and patient's families.
- We ADVOCATE: We advocate on behalf of every patient and family.
- We RESPECT: We recognize and value the dignity, rights, and resources of each patient.
- We PROVIDE: We provide complex medical care with purpose and compassion.
- We SERVE: We serve as a TEAM with integrity at all levels focused on achieving the best possible outcomes for our patients.
Experience: Six to twelve months of Monitor Technician experience in telemetry or ICU setting is preferred.
Education: High school diploma or equivalent is required. Completion of Basic EKG Interpretation course is required. Completion of Intermediate EKG Interpretation course is preferred.
Licensure/Certification: EKG certification/registration as required by individual states. Current BLS certification is required. All Monitor Technicians must maintain current EKG certification/registration as required by individual states and BLS certification while employed with LifeCare Hospitals.
Physical Requirements
1. Ability to lift, move, transport and position patients, equipment, or supplies/materials up to fifty (50) pounds without assistance; or over fifty (50) pounds with the aid of mechanical assistance or assistance of personnel.
2. Range of motion and mobility of self by positioning or moving around hospital to include sitting, standing, walking, bending, squatting, stooping, kneeling, crawling, climbing, and reaching.
3. Ability to communicate with patients, families, physicians, co-workers, and visitors to be able to exchange accurate information regarding patient condition and health status. Ability to exchange and express information by means of language and communicate information effectively.
4. Ability to hear the nature of sounds. Ability to detect clinical alarms and conversation. Ability to give full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
5. Ability to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
6. Ability to monitor/assess performance of yourself to make improvements or take corrective action.
7. Ability to see things at close range and match and/or detect differences between colors, including color and brightness.
8. Ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble small objects.
9. Ability to keep your hand steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
10. Ability to understand the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision making. Ability to use scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
11. Ability to identify problems and review related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
12. Ability to respond to emergency or crisis in a calm and professional manner as a team member to resolve the crisis or emergency.
13. Ability to work independently and perform routine and detail-oriented tasks. Ability to manage one’s own time.
14. Ability to consider the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
15. Ability to collect and analyze numerical, written data and verbal communication to reach logical conclusions and ability to determine the time, place and sequence of operations or action.
16. Ability to review, assess, record or type data quickly and accurately.
17. Ability to observe and recognize or identify changes in patient’s health status or condition.
18. Ability to perform mathematical equations.
19. Ability to view and operate required equipment.
20. Ability to determine resources needed in order to provide quality patient care.
21. Ability to view telemetry monitor screen and computer monitor screen during the scheduled shift.
22. Ability to make independent judgments and decisions.
Environmental/Working Conditions
1. Category 2 - Infection exposure due to jobs in which required tasks do not normally involve exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues, but may require performing unplanned Category 1 tasks. In these jobs the normal work routine involves no exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues. However, potential exposure may be required as a condition of employment.
2. Ability to work alone or with minimal supervision.
3. Contact with patients, families, co-workers, physicians, and visitors.
4. Ability to work under and handle stress in an appropriate manner.
5. Ability to handle multiple tasks.
6. Ability to work long hours between breaks and meals may be required.
7. Exposure to high, medium, or low noise intensity.
8. Environmental hazards of carpel tunnel syndrome (caused by repetitive, incorrect flexing of the hand and wrist muscles over time), back/neck pain/strain, fatigue, headaches, edema of the feet, impaired hearing, and eye strain.
Machinery/Tools/Equipment Requirements: Ability to operate nursing call system, telemetry monitoring systems and equipment, applicable patient care and emergency equipment, telephone, fax machine, copy machine, computer, printer, and calculator.
