polysomnography trainee

About the Role

This position is designed to develop skills in collecting, analyzing, and integrating patient information to identify and meet patient-specific needs, including physical and mental limitations, current emotional and physiological status regarding testing procedures, and pertinent medical and social history.

You will learn to determine final testing parameters and procedures in conjunction with the ordering physician or clinical director and laboratory protocols, while following sleep center protocols related to sleep studies.

Responsibilities

• Review pertinent patient history and verify medical orders under supervision.
• Learn to score sleep/wake stages and generate accurate reports by tabulating sleep/wake and clinical event data (e.g., respiratory events, cardiac events, limb movements, arousals).
• Learn appropriate interventions for patient safety and therapeutic measures, including continuous (CPAP) and bi-level (BIPAP) positive airway pressure and oxygen administration.
• Assist with procedures and therapeutic interventions such as auto servo ventilation (SV) titrations, average volume assured pressure support (AVAPS), multiple sleep latency testing (MSLT), maintenance of wakefulness testing (MWT), and home sleep apnea testing (HSAT).
• Learn polysomnographic data acquisition while monitoring study-tracing quality to recognize and eliminate artifacts.
• Follow wake procedures to verify data integrity, including repeating physiological and instrument calibrations and instructing patients on completing questionnaires.
• Set up video and audio monitoring apparatus under supervision.
• Maintain equipment in clean operating condition, detect malfunctions, make minor adjustments, and report major repair needs.
• Monitor equipment supply levels and ensure appropriate equipment is available.
• Participate in quality assurance and improvement measures.
• Demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide age-appropriate care, including assessing patient data and interpreting age-specific needs.

Requirements

• High School Graduate.
• Typically requires 6 months of direct patient care experience.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) must be obtained within 30 days.
• Completion of an Accredited Sleep Technologist Education Program (A-STEP) must be completed within 3 months.

Skills

• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Basic computer skills.
• Ability to take direction, implement guidance, and professionally seek clarification when needed.
• Ability to make sound clinical decisions independently and under the supervision of a registered Polysomnography Technologist.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• May drive between sites, exposing you to road hazards.
• Must operate all equipment essential to performing the job.
• Must sit, stand, walk, lift, squat, and kneel throughout the workday.
• Ability to:
  • Lift up to 50 lbs. from floor to waist.
  • Lift up to 20 lbs. overhead.
  • Carry up to 40 lbs. a reasonable distance.
  • Push/pull with 30 lbs. of force.
  • Perform a sliding transfer of 150 lbs. with a second person present.
• Exposure to mechanical, electrical, and chemical hazards; protective clothing may be required.