Emergency Department Technician (Part Time, Days)

Penn Medicine is dedicated to our tripartite mission of providing the highest level of care to patients, conducting innovative research, and educating future leaders in the field of medicine. Working for this leading academic medical center means collaboration with top clinical, technical and business professionals across all disciplines.

About the role

Serves as an assistant to the Emergency Department (ED) under the direct supervision of the RN in providing patient care in the Emergency Department setting. The Emergency Department tech will augment and perform a variety of direct and indirect patient care duties in order to help provide for the total needs of patients in the Emergency Department. Adheres to Nursing Policies and Procedures and Organizational Goals and Objectives.

Part-time, 0.6 FTE (24 hours/week) located at Lancaster, PA-Main Hospital.

Responsibilities

• Provides age appropriate care for the patient population served, considering growth & developmental phase, thermal regulation, nutrition, safety, and functional needs.
• Uses appropriate resources for patients with special needs such as language barriers, sensory problems, altered cognition, cultural, and religious needs.
• Assists with patient care by preparing patients for exam and treatment, including bringing patients into appropriate care areas, assisting with undressing, and exposing areas for exam as protocols dictate.
• Integrates principles of infection control & infection prevention into practice.
• Stocks patient rooms with supplies and removes outdated items.
• Sets up equipment and procedure trays (using sterile and/or unsterile techniques) to assist physicians and physician assistants in preparation for suturing and other emergency department procedures (splinting and casting, pelvic examinations).
• Responds to Trauma, Stroke, and Code R activations assisting with patient care.
• Bathes patients and provides assistance with hygiene; changes incontinent patients promptly and provides appropriate skin care.
• Empties bedpans, urinals, commodes, and assists patients to the bathroom.
• Distributes nourishments as scheduled.
• Measures and records intake and output.
• Positions patients correctly, aligns and supports torso and limbs as directed and per patient comfort.
• Transports patients via wheelchair or stretcher using safety measures appropriate for patient and vehicle.
• Makes hourly rounds for patient safety and customer service; responds to patient call lights in a timely manner.
• Assists visitors to the unit in finding patient rooms, staff members, and other resources; checks with the RN as necessary for visitors.
• Properly collects and labels specimen(s) for lab completion.
• Inventories patient belongings at admission, transfer, and discharge.
• Provides 1:1 patient supervision in “Sitter” role for patient safety and suicide precautions.
• Communicates clearly and with courtesy with all members of the healthcare team, following lines of authority, as appropriate.
• Keeps track of patient location and communicates to RN, other healthcare providers, and patient’s family.
• Performs the following per policies and clinical protocols:
  • 12 Lead EKG
  • Ear and eye irrigations
  • Visual acuity screenings
  • Wound care, dressing, and ice packs
  • Pacemaker interrogation tests
  • ETOH testing
  • Splinting, Hare traction, crutch teaching, cane, and walker education for patients
  • Vital signs and weights measurement
  • Chest leads for patients on cardiac monitoring, and performs basic troubleshooting, such as replacing loose or missing electrodes
  • LUCAS Device to ensure successful compressions required for CPR
  • Cardiac monitor for hardwire cardiac monitoring systems

Secondary Responsibilities

• Serves as a preceptor and mentor for new employees.
• Assists patients with meals, feeds patients as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High School diploma or equivalent (GED).
• Previous training or experience in a position in a healthcare setting.
• Basic computer skills with the ability to complete data entry on clinical documentation screens.
• CPR certification.
• ACT 73 - PA State Clearances.

Preferred Qualifications

• Phlebotomy and EKG skills.
• Training and/or experience at an acute care or skilled nursing facility or student nurse with hospital-based clinical experience.
• Safe Patient Handling education.

Benefits

We believe that the best care for our patients starts with the best care for our employees. Our employee benefits programs help our employees get healthy and stay healthy. We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits program that includes one of the finest prepaid tuition assistance programs in the region.