JOB SUMMARY: The Telemetry Technician is an unlicensed person who performs indirect care in the department setting. Monitors cardiac rhythms via direct cardiac monitors. Meets the communication needs of the department. Prepares and complies records in the department. Orders supplies for the unit and prepares and completes each patient's chart for necessary forms needed on a daily basis. Able to assist nursing staff with indirect patient care duties as long as the activity does not distract from primary responsibility for dysrhythmia monitoring.
EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, TRAINING
1. High School Diploma or Equivalent or related experience required.
2. Current Dysrhythmia Interpretation education upon hire and maintain current.
3. Six months previous experience as Monitor Technician preferred.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Demonstrates dysrhythmia monitoring skills. Possesses good organizational and computer skills.
2. Obtains monitor strips and posts the strips on the patient record with interpretations according to hospital policy including: Rate, P-R Interval, QRS interval and Rhythm.
3. Ensures consistently that all clinical alarms i.e. cardiac monitors are set with the appropriate parameters for the patients and are audible at all times.
4. Uses two patient identifiers when re-banding a patient or posting lab results on a chart to ensure correct information. Demonstrates awareness of importance of accurate patient identification at all times.
5. Does not use unacceptable abbreviations. Alerts physicians and staff when transcribing orders. Checks for completeness and accuracy of patient's record and correct order of documents within the record.
6. Avoids and prevents injury to self and patients by applying the principles of body mechanics. Maintains a safe environment, functioning with an awareness and application of safety issues identified within the unit facility.
7. Notifies the Bio-Med department for nonfunctioning equipment in a timely manner.
8. Maintains completeness of the patient chart for admission, discharge and transfer, belonging check lists and medication reconciliation form. Communicates to other departments of admissions and coordinates discharges/transfers as appropriate.
9. Practices telephone etiquette when placing and answering calls for physicians, patient families and other departments.
10. Maintains department specific admission, discharge, and transfer log book and staff daily patient assignment record.
11. Participates in department specific PI data collection.
12. Completes additional duties as assigned by the charge RN.
13. Assists in preparation of department specific monthly statistics as required.
14. Greets visitors and ensures that each person waits in comfort with definite expectations of when and how they will be served.
15. Responds with a positive manner to visitors, communicates, calls and escorts families to bedside when appropriate.
16. Demonstrates teamwork with peers to ensure all work is completed during the shift. Completes work from previous shift; informs next shift of incomplete assignments and pending reports.
17. Attends and maintains mandatory training in safe patient handling, trained in safe lifting techniques, includes but not limited to:
1) Appropriate use of lifting devices and equipment.
2) Five areas of body exposure: vertical, lateral, bariatric repositioning and ambulation.
3)Use of lifting devices to handle patients safely.
18. May provide direct patient care under the direct supervision of the RN within scope of Certified Nursing Assistant if:
1) possesses active CNA certification.
2) demonstrates annual competency in CNA duties and skill.s
3) is relieved of Monitor Technician duties during the time of assisting the RN in direct patient care.
19. Maintain regular attendance.
20. Performs other duties as assigned or required.