Job Objective:
The Nurse Technician/Monitor Technician is a dual role who is responsible for on-going surveillance of patient cardiac monitors and provides RNs and/or clinicians with immediate notification of any changes in cardiac rhythms as well as nursing care as a Nurse Technician. This dual role affords the flexibility of utilizing this position where the need is greatest.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Essential Duties and Responsibilities for the Monitor Technician Role:
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Maintains ongoing, high-level surveillance of patient cardiac rhythms and notifies nursing/clinicians of any rate/rhythm changes according to clinician/provider orders.
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Measures and interprets patient heart rhythm and documents on patient record per departmental standards.
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Performs clerical duties related to admission, discharge, and documentation of patient information from Central Telemetry.
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Answers telephone and communicates clearly when receiving information from units or providers. Uses clear and complete communication with unit personnel when delivering information about changes in patient rhythm.
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Orients and mentors new staff members. Serves as a resource for training and troubleshooting to both Central Telemetry and clinical areas.
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Troubleshoots monitors with nursing staff and contacts Clinical Engineering as appropriate.
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Gives report to oncoming shift.
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Prioritizes and organizes work assignment and adjusts priorities based on changing situations.
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Replaces defective equipment and reports failures to Clinical Engineering.
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Adheres to confidentiality of information acquired pertaining to patients, clinicians, employees, and visitors.
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Develops a rapport and cooperative relationship with nursing and clinical staff and responds to questions/requests from healthcare providers.
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Performs job responsibilities in accordance with the Mission, Vision, and Values of AVMC.
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Performs other duties as requested.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities for the Nursing Technician Role:
1. Provide patient care which includes accurate observations of the patient needs, reporting patient symptoms and needs to the Licensed Nurse.
2. High Degree of Involvement with patients and family members.
3. Maintains Proper Body Alignment at all times.
4. Assists in providing general routine patient care based upon the Registered Nurse’s assessment and plan of care, adhering to accepted policies and procedures.
5. Performs basic patient care tasks such as hygiene, making occupied and unoccupied beds, provide oral care, peri care and hair care, assist with elimination, assist with feeding and feeding patients when necessary.
6. Assist with patient movement including range of motion, turning patients every 2 hours and positioning them in bed and assisting to the chair when applicable.
7. Transport patients by gurney, bed or wheelchair.
8. Removal and application of restraints.
9. Replace telemetry batteries and patches as requested.
10. Prevent skin breakdown.
11. Vital signs including pain level
12. Assist with maintaining accurate intake and output
13. Participate in hourly rounding to assess patient needs and safety.
14. Assist in the facilitation of a quiet environment.
15. Procedures related to elimination including foley care, colostomy care, urostomy care and including but not limited to emptying and appliance change.
16. Perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation as requested.
17. Perform Electrocardiograms
18. Ambulation with assistive devices such as crutches, walkers or gait belts.
19. Care of tubes and drains including Jackson Pratt, hemovac and pleurovac.
20. Use of equipment including intermittent compression devices, traction, scales and cast care.
21. Surgical skin preparation
22. Perform errands to facilitate work flow ie: take specimens to lab
23. Operates technical equipment safely and appropriately.
24. Demonstrates knowledge regarding special needs and behaviors of age specific groups.
25. Documents accurately in the electronic medical record, restraint record, belongings list.
26. Demonstrates knowledge of legal aspects of care, knowledge of legal documents pertinent to unit/area of care.
27. Knowledge of the computer system in use.
28. When needed as Nurse Technician, will be floated to whichever unit has the need.
Non-Essential Duties
- Assist in special projects/assignments as needed
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Knowledge
- Knowledge of basic anatomy/physiology of the heart
Skills
- Clear and concise communication skills
- Skills obtained through completion of a basic nursing aide course or the basic nursing modules in the Registered Nursing or Licensed Vocational Nursing programs at a community college
Abilities
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, clinicians, and other health team professionals
- Ability to accept responsibility for accuracy and response times to emergent and non-emergent requests.
AVMC Values: All AVMC employees will effectively demonstrate these values:
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Patients Come First – We listen actively and communicate with our patients and families, placing safety as a top priority.
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Accountability & Ownership – We fully complete tasks, are transparent, effectively communicate, and recognize that what we do reflects on us.
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Teamwork – We build trusting relationships, promote a sense of community, and are respectful of everyone. Success is about the whole team.
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Integrity & Honesty – We tell the truth at all times, speak up when something is wrong, and do the right thing when no one is looking.
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Excellence – We take pride in our work, are goal-oriented, and on a never-ending quest for top tier quality.
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Initiative & Innovation – Our can-do attitudes, creativity, and resourcefulness empower us to improve the patient’s experience, solve our own problems, make timely decisions, and look for opportunities to add value.
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Tenderness & Compassion – We have genuine empathy, show kindness, and encourage and advocate for each other.
Education and Experience:
Education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Successful completion of the Basic Dysrhythmia test with a minimum of 90% accuracy, identifying all lethal rhythms with 100% accuracy.
- Completion of a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) course or the basic nursing modules in the Registered Nursing or Licensed Vocational Nursing programs at a community college, or Emergency Medical Technician program preferred.
Experience
- Minimum one year experience in an acute care setting preferred
- Previous Monitor Tech experience greater than one year preferred
Required Licensure and/or Certifications:
- Possess and maintain current certification in American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) for Health care Providers
- Maintain annual competences including successful completion of the annual monitor tech skills test
- Possess and maintain a current California License as a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) preferred
AVMC Conduct/Compliance Expectations:
- Ability to adhere with AVMC Attendance and Punctuality Policy.
- Ability to adhere with AVMC Leaves of Absence Policy.
- Ability to adhere with AVMC Paid Time Off (PTO) Policy.
- Ability to adhere to the department dress code.
- Ability to organize work and establish priorities.
- Ability to expand on own initiative in performance of duties.
- Skill and ability to follow the telephone etiquette/standards.
- Ability to function effectively under pressure and meet time parameters.
- Ability to communicate effectively while maintaining good working relationships with co-workers, managers and other hospital staff.
- Ability to adhere to the normal standards of courtesy and conduct as defined under the rules of hospitality at AVMC.
- Ability to maintain the confidentiality of patient, hospital and department information.
- Ability to adhere to safety rules and regulations.
- Safely and effectively uses all equipment necessary to carry out duties.
- Ability to interpret and function under hospital and department policies and procedures.
- Conforms with required and appropriate accreditation and regulatory requirements.
- Conforms with and supports hospital quality assurance and improvement guidelines.
- Ability to participate effectively in department and hospital staff education.
- Display a willingness to work as a team player.
- Ability to give and support the highest level of patient/customer satisfaction at all times.
- Supports and adheres to the values and mission statement established by the AVMC Board of Directors.
- Ability to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the Compliance & Integrity Program and its established policies.
Ability to follow the Code of Conduct.
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:
- Work often performed under demanding, emotional, and physical conditions.
- Accepts additional workload during times of unexpected circumstances (e.g., high activity, high census, and sudden emergencies).
A detailed description of the physical requirements of this job is maintained in the Employee Health Department.
NOTE: THE ABOVE STATEMENTS ARE INTENDED TO DESCRIBE THE GENERAL NATURE AND LEVEL OF WORK PERFORMED BY PEOPLE ASSIGNED TO THIS JOB. THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT INTENDED TO BE AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF ALL RESPONSIBILITIES, SKILLS, AND WORKING CONDITIONS FOR THE PERSONNEL SO CLASSIFIED.
Education and Experience:
Education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Successful completion of the Basic Dysrhythmia test with a minimum of 90% accuracy, identifying all lethal rhythms with 100% accuracy.
- Completion of a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) course or the basic nursing modules in the Registered Nursing or Licensed Vocational Nursing programs at a community college, or Emergency Medical Technician program preferred.
Experience
- Minimum one year experience in an acute care setting preferred
- Previous Monitor Tech experience greater than one year preferred
Required Licensure and/or Certifications:
- Possess and maintain current certification in American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) for Health care Providers
- Maintain annual competences including successful completion of the annual monitor tech skills test
- Possess and maintain a current California License as a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) preferred
