Monitor and Patient Care Technician-Float

About the Role

Responsible for serving on the patient care team for an assigned area, providing direct patient care as an unlicensed professional under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN). This includes continual monitoring of cardiac rhythms via electrocardiographic central station monitors and remote telemetry patient monitors, interpreting cardiac rhythms, reporting changes to the appropriate nurse, and maintaining documentation of patient admissions, transfers, and dismissals.

Responsibilities

• Commits to the mission, vision, beliefs, and consistently demonstrates core values.
• Receives, greets, screens, and directs patients, physicians, visitors, and medical center personnel; provides accurate responses in a friendly, helpful, and courteous manner; answers telephones promptly and professionally.
• Maintains documentation regarding admissions, transfers, and dismissals of all patients on telemetry monitors.
• Assists with patient care consistent with standards of care and clinical priorities determined by the RN, following unit policies, procedures, and risk management practices.
• Performs, communicates, and documents cardiac rhythm interpretation, including dysrhythmias.
• Provides direct observation of telemetry monitors; distributes monitors for unit/remote monitoring; maintains monitoring equipment as needed.
• Records routine strips for the medical record; documents routine strips and any changes in rhythm and rate.
• Answers telephones and assigned communication devices, relaying information as appropriate; refers physician telephone orders to a licensed professional.
• Performs and documents routine direct nursing care tasks according to identified age-specific needs.
• Attends to routine needs for patient comfort, such as straightening rooms and refilling water pitchers.
• Cleans and cares for equipment and work area.
• Changes infant diapers and records on flow sheet; feeds infants with a bottle and burps them; records on flow sheet; transfers infants from mother’s room to nursery.
• Maintains a confidential environment when communicating patient information; promptly reports priority patient information to appropriate caregivers.
• Recognizes emergency procedures and reacts appropriately per role and procedure.
• Assists with entering appropriate telemetry charges; maintains and orders unit supplies and equipment as needed.
• Maintains professional growth and development through seminars, workshops, and professional affiliations.
• Participates in meetings, committees, and department projects as assigned.
• Performs other related projects and duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High School diploma or equivalency required.
• Active Nebraska Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) credential required.
• Prior telemetry monitoring experience in a medical facility and/or CNA experience preferred.
• Basic Life Support (CPR) certification required (American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or Military Training Network).
• Successful completion of an ECG monitoring class within 6 months of hire and/or competency validation required.

Skills

• Maintains clinical competency as required for the unit of assignment, including population-specific competencies.
• Knowledge of basic anatomy and physiology, cardiac monitoring procedures, and general hospital processes.
• Knowledge of computer hardware and software applications relevant to work functions.
• Skill in operating cardiac monitoring equipment.
• Ability to practice proper body mechanics to ensure personal and patient safety.
• Ability to work as a team member and recognize/interpret cardiac monitor information.
• Ability to address patients’ growth and development needs, particularly in crisis or end-of-life situations.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with acute, chronic, and complex disease processes.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; ability to perform crucial conversations with desired outcomes.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of personnel and medical staff.
• Problem-solving and independent critical-thinking skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Ability to prioritize work demands and work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to maintain regular and punctual attendance.

Physical Requirements

Characterized as medium work requiring exertion of 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.