Health Technician

Duties

• Provide quality nursing care to a variety of patients whose age may range from 17 years to 100+ years
• Communicate effectively with others in all aspects of their duties, working cooperatively as a team member
• Interacts with patients, visitors, staff, students, and volunteers in a courteous, helpful, cooperative, and compassionate manner
• Maintain a serene atmosphere in the clinic and waiting area by treating patients with respect and dignity and utilizing a calm manner in approaching agitated patients
• Notify health care professionals when changes are noted in a patient's usual demeanor or if their behavior has changed significantly from previous visits
• Respond and assist in the management of patients who lose control of behavior and/or become harmful to self and others by utilizing measures as directed by the health care professional and using de-escalation skills
• Provide for physical and emotional needs of patients requiring 1:1 observation while undergoing procedures or awaiting admission to the hospital
• Receive written and verbal requests from health care professionals and provides assistance for a variety of difficult examinations and/or procedures that include - but are not limited to - 12-lead EKGs, Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI), bladder ultrasound, pulmonary functions (PFT), venipuncture for specimen collection, phlebotomy, and/or IV access, wound care/dressing changes, monofilament foot exam, insert indwelling/external catheters, etc.
• Accurately measure intake and output
• Operate and maintain medical instruments and equipment for diagnostic and treatment procedures such as Point of Care Testing (POCT), EKG machines, CBG monitors, Breathalyzers, Nebulizer machines, ABI dopplers, bladder scans, spirometers, vital signs monitors, etc.
• Facilitate repair or replacement of any malfunctioning or broken equipment or instruments
• Perform direct patient support to include gathering information from patients, providing personal patient care, and patient education on home use of medical equipment such as glucometers, blood pressure monitors, peak flow meters, etc.
• Assist Veterans with scheduling appointments, entering requests for labs, x-rays into CPRS GUI, entering consult requests for specialty services within Behavioral Health, assisting Veterans with scheduling appointments in ancillary/specialty services
• Respond appropriately to emergency situations such as cardiopulmonary failure, hemorrhaging, and shock by assisting in the performance of resuscitation measures (CPR)
• Observe and provide for a safe environment for patients and others through monitoring, reporting, and taking protective precautions with any hazards once they are observed
• Provide for safety through use of asepsis (Universal Precautions) and isolation of patients when needed

Qualifications

• Possess technician experience that requires application of knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled
• Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: setting up equipment for procedures; performing personal patient care; and utilizing an automated system to enter and retrieve patient data