Nursing Station Technician/Monitor Tech - ICU

Nursing Station Technician/Monitor Tech

Fairview is looking for a Nursing Station Technician/Monitor Tech to join our St. John's Hospital team in Maplewood, MN. This position is 56 hours per two weeks on the Evening shift, for 8 hour shifts, with an every other weekend rotation.

This hospital provides a warm, inviting atmosphere and humble staff. Innovative technology, combined with the expertise of our specialists, nurses and staff, contribute to our innovative healing environment and personal, diligent health care delivery. We are committed to delivering outstanding health care in our growing community! Our 184 bed facility offers a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic services.

About This Unit:

St. John's is proud to offer hiring opportunities within its growing ICU. Comprised of a Medical Surgical and Cardiac Specialty population, St. John's currently has 20 ICU beds. We pride ourselves on delivering the best patient care and welcome nursing assistants who are engaged and eager to develop their practice.

• 20 Adult ICU beds
• Average Daily Census 14
• Patient population: Medical/Surgical & Heart Care

Work under direction of nursing personnel to provide patient care while functioning as a nursing assistant and as a health unit coordinator. Duties may include: patient cares, vitals, bathing, feeding, answering call lights, transporting, care of environment (by stocking, cleaning, and maintaining rooms) and use of equipment, phones, clerical, transcription, and coordinate the flow of communication on the unit. May work as a patient care attendant. Observes cardiac monitors, detecting and reporting abnormalities that may occur in the patient's EKG status. The NST does not work autonomously but under the direction of the professional nurse. They may or may not be given a patient care assignment based on unit needs and the discretion of the manager / charge nurse.

Performs delegated nursing functions to assigned patients including personal care, ambulation, exercise, nutrition, specimen collection, blood glucose monitoring, ECG heart rhythm interpretation, and vital signs:

• Assists patients with personal cares.
• Assures patient privacy and safety.
• Recognizes patient/family needs for comfort.
• Provides appropriate comforting measures.
• Responds to patient call lights.
• Recognizes when different approaches are needed due to age or cultural background.
• Utilizes equipment properly.

Performs special procedures (eg: skin care) as defined by patient care unit practice guidelines:

• Uses appropriate infection control techniques.
• Uses supplies and equipment appropriately.
• Seeks assistance when faced with abnormal situations.

Observes patients and reports any changes in status to appropriate staff:

• Documents care provided.
• Reports unusual data or changes in patient condition to nurse in a timely manner.
• Responds appropriately to emergent situations.
• Assists the nurses in monitoring patient condition.

Communicates effectively with all members of the health care team:

• Maintains patient confidentiality
• Provides updates and report to maintain continuity of care and keeps staff informed of changes in patients schedules.
• Uses established communication system to contact staff members.
• Responds appropriately to emergent situations.

Performs environmental and other responsibilities as assigned:

• Maintains order and cleanliness in –patient care rooms, central desk area, and other areas as assigned.
• Assists with patient admissions, transfers, and discharges.
• Provides courier and escort services as needed.
• Responsible for the maintenance of desk area and patient supplies and equipment according to designated standards

Maintains the medical record:

• Assures that each medical record is complete, in appropriate order, and current.
• Assures that all medical orders are transcribed in an accurate, timely manner and in accordance with unit guidelines.
• Files chart reports in a timely manner.
• Anticipates needs and prepares charts for admission, transfer, and discharge including copying appropriate information for discharge to other health care facilities.
• Utilizes correct medical terminology and proper abbreviations and uses proper abbreviations and symbols per procedures.

Schedules patient tests and procedures:

• Considers patient needs and changing condition to schedule tests and procedures accordingly.
• Works with other members of the health care team to prioritize tests and procedures when multiple requests are requested.
• Communicates clearly to other departments and services to assure they have all essential information including special requests and needs of the patient.
• Recognizes when different considerations are needed due to age, or cultural background.

Maintains unit communication systems and central desk area:

• Records scheduled tests and procedures on kardexs and communication boards.
• Handles specimens and patient equipment according to proper infection control practices.
• Notifies appropriate team members when tests or procedure results and other information are available.
• Responsible for the completion of clerical duties in an organized and priority-based manner.

Receives all patients, family members, visitors and other members of the health team:

• Notices and greets people as they approach the desk.
• Responds to everyone in a welcoming and positive manner.
• Answers telephone and responds to calls according to unit guidelines and customer service principles.
• Coordinates activities of the desk area to provide prompt, accurate and courteous handling of communication. Consistently answers patient intercom promptly and relays patient requests in a timely manner.

Maintains unit stock/supplies/equipment:

• Monitors and coordinates ordering and stocking of supplies, forms, and equipment per designated standards on routine basis.
• Orders individual patient supplies as directed by a nurse or as indicated on physician orders.
• Notifies appropriate department per procedure for equipment requiring maintenance and follows through on status of equipment as necessary.
• Demonstrates general knowledge of cost containment and awareness of cost control by following designated standards of the patient care area. (PAR levels, etc.)

Participates in staff development:

• Participates in orientation of new staff on the patient care unit.
• Demonstrates and shares knowledge of priority-based job responsibilities in an organized manner with the new staff.
• Demonstrates and shares knowledge of policies specific to FRH or include: patient confidentiality, safety/emergency procedures, infection control..

Organization Expectations, as applicable:

• Demonstrates ability to provide care or service adjusting approaches to reflect developmental level and cultural differences of population served
  • Partners with patient care giver in care/decision making.
  • Communicates in a respective manner.
  • Ensures a safe, secure environment.
  • Individualizes plan of care to meet patient needs.
  • Modifies clinical interventions based on population served.
  • Provides patient education based on as assessment of learning needs of patient/care giver.
• Fulfills all organizational requirements
  • Completes all required learning relevant to the role
  • Complies with and maintains knowledge of all relevant laws, regulation, policies, procedures and standards.
• Fosters a culture of improvement, efficiency and innovative thinking.
• Performs other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications:

License/Certification/Registration

• Basic Life Support (BLS for Healthcare Providers) certification required. Ontrack participants much be able to acquire BLS certification upon completion of the OnTrack program
• Six months of recent direct care experience in a long term, home care or acute care setting. (Appropriate roles may include, Nursing Assistant, PCA, Resident Assistant or Emergency Room Technician)

Or

• Current enrollment in an LPN, RN or Nurse Practitioner program, and completion of one (1) semester of clinical rotation within the program

Or