EMT Paramedic - PRN

About the role

This is a PRN midshift position requiring one 12‑hour shift per week. The Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)/Paramedic assists in delivering patient care and services to a diverse patient population and their families, performs EKGs and collects lab specimens under the direction of a licensed nurse or provider, and carries out patient care activities of daily living within unit‑specific defined limits and job scope. The role demonstrates knowledge and skills to communicate appropriately, carry out delegated tasks, conduct hourly rounding to ensure patient needs are met, record data per policy and procedure, and report observations and patient problems to the licensed nurse or provider. Practices Patient and Family Centered Care in concert with Houston Methodist Experience standards.

Schedule

• PRN midshift
• One 12‑hour shift per week required

Classification

FLSA Status: Non‑exempt

Responsibilities

People

• Functions as a team member, responding willingly and positively to colleagues’ needs for assistance and partnership.
• Promotes a positive work environment with the interprofessional care team.
• Problem‑solves, assists other techs, manages several ongoing priorities with minimal supervision.
• Serves as role model using critical thinking; mentors new EMTs and ancillary personnel on unit procedures, role, and unit readiness as team leader in patient decontamination operations.
• Interacts with peers, staff, and physicians in a supportive and respectful manner; encourages open communication to achieve mutual understanding.
• Communicates clearly and professionally to promote work efforts and problem resolution.
• Collaborates with all members of the interprofessional team by actively communicating and reporting pertinent patient care information in a clear and timely manner.
• Serves as an educational resource for unit competency and validation procedures applicable to the role.
• Contributes toward improvement of department scores for employee engagement on unit‑based scorecard through peer‑to‑peer accountability.

Service

• Role models patient and family‑centered care standards and provides direct patient care under the direction of a registered nurse.
• Documents comprehensive screenings, care administered, diagnostic measurements, allergies, medication lists, treatments, and procedures (e.g., vital signs, 12‑lead EKG, phlebotomy, ultrasound‑guided IV catheter insertion, CPR, splinting, specimen collection, immobilization by backboard, extrication from vehicles) per established policies and procedures.
• Repeats vital signs according to policy.
• Observes patients, making hourly rounds to ensure patient needs are met (four P’s) and to detect condition changes.
• Reports observations, conditions, and problems of patients to the licensed nurse to achieve desired patient outcomes.
• Responds to the call light system, contacting nursing personnel as appropriate, and follows through with meeting patient needs.
• Contributes toward improving department scores for patient satisfaction on unit‑based scorecard through peer‑to‑peer accountability (e.g., bedside shift handoff/report).

Quality & Safety

• Uses rapid assessment skills to accurately identify patients’ severity of illness, deterioration of conditions, and risks for adverse events; communicates findings to licensed nurse or provider.
• Applies critical thinking to recognize abnormal ECGs, vital signs, and mental status to monitor high‑risk patients out of the department as delegated.
• Manages incoming patient information by receiving pre‑arrival notifications from EMS providers per unit protocols.
• Provides for patient and family privacy while keeping patient safety in mind.
• Reports “near misses” and inputs errors promptly into PSN to improve processes and identify trends.
• Supports initiatives to prevent pressure injuries, patient falls, and hospital‑acquired infections.
• Contributes to identification of corrective action and improvement activities impacting quality and safety targets on the unit‑based scorecard through peer‑to‑peer accountability and collaboration with the interprofessional team.

Finance

• Uses resources efficiently; does not waste supplies.
• Assists with patient and staffing needs (floats) across the service line or hospital as competencies allow.
• Self‑motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks, minimizing incidental overtime.
• Role models effective time management and coordinates colleagues to meet overall unit demands.
• Maintains an orderly environment that facilitates access to supplies, equipment, and resource information.
• Assists in inventory, monitoring, and ordering supplies and medical equipment to maintain par levels.

Growth & Innovation

• Seeks opportunities to expand learning beyond baseline competencies with a focus on continual development, assisting with improving skills, performance, and outcomes.
• Identifies own learning needs, consults with healthcare team experts, and seeks continuing education opportunities to meet those needs.
• Fosters a positive and constructive patient care environment by engaging co‑workers in valuable learning opportunities aligned with department objectives.
• Offers innovative solutions through participation in performance improvement projects and shared governance activities.
• Completes and updates the My Development plan on an ongoing basis.

Requirements

Education

• High School diploma or equivalent (e.g., GED, verification of homeschool equivalency, partial or full completion of post‑secondary education).
• Completion of EMT‑A, EMT‑Paramedic program, or licensed Paramedic, and/or currently participating in an EMT to Paramedic program with classification of EMT‑Advanced.

Experience

• Six months pre‑hospital experience or six months hospital experience as an EMT or Paramedic.

Licenses & Certifications

Required — must have one of the following:

• LP – Licensed Paramedic (State Licensure)
• EMT‑A – Emergency Medical Technician‑Advanced (State Certification)
• EMT‑P – Emergency Medical Technician‑Paramedic (State Certification)

And all of the following:

• BLS – Basic Life Support or Instructor (AHA) – American Heart Association
• ACLS – Advanced Cardiac Life Support or Instructor (AHA) – American Heart Association
• PALS – Pediatric Advanced Life Support or Instructor (AHA) – American Heart Association
• NVCRISIS – Nonviolent Crisis Intervention or Instructor (CPI) – Crisis Prevention Institute

Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrates skills and competencies necessary to safely perform assigned job, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations.
• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing English to perform essential functions, especially activities impacting patient or employee safety or security.
• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members, and co‑workers with a customer‑service focus and positive language principles.
• Demonstrates and exercises judgment in interactions with physicians, interprofessional care team, patients, and families.
• Displays strong time management skills.
• Adapts to multiple ongoing priorities with minimal supervision, including organizing workflows and actively participating in problem solving.
• Demonstrates ability to access information both in the department and within the hospital system to support the department and interprofessional healthcare team.
• Possesses competent computer knowledge; operates multiple computer systems including electronic health records (e.g., Epic) and Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) to maintain patient information.
• Must be able to perform basic EKG interpretation.
• Applies basic knowledge of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA).

Supplemental Requirements

Work Attire

• Uniform: No
• Scrubs: Yes
• Business professional: No
• Other (department approved): Yes

On‑Call

Employees may be required to be on‑call during emergencies (e.g., disaster, severe weather events) regardless of selection. On‑call requirement for this position: No.

Travel

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area: No
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area: No