Unit Technician - Observation Unit

Observation Unit - Full Time - Night Shift

Primary Purpose

Coordinates patient care, clerical and administrative needs by acting as the primary contact for the unit, while assisting and responding to information requests from doctors, nurses, patients, patient families and others to effectively service unit staff and customers by providing a permanent information resource within the unit. Unit Technicians perform phlebotomy skills, drawing labs and preparing these for testing.

MINIMUM SPECIFICATIONS

Education:

• Must have completed or hold one of the following:
• A formal nurse aide course
• A current certified nurse aide registry
• A medical assistant course
• A current medical assistant certificate
• A patient care technician course
• A current patient care technician certificate
• Must be a currently enrolled in an accredited school of professional nursing and must have documentation of basic fundamentals of nursing from the school
• Must be a graduate from an accredited school of nursing
• Parkland's job specific training program

Experience:

• One year acute care hospital experience

Equivalent Education and/or Experience:

• Successful completion of Parkland's job specific training program will be considered equivalent to 1 year of experience.

Certification/Registration/Licensure:

• Must have a current Heartsaver CPR course completion card within 90 days of hire and/or placement in job from one of the following: American Heart Association or American Red Cross

Skills or Special Abilities:

• Must be able to demonstrate competence in performing a variety of patient care and clerical duties.
• Must be able to communicate effectively with personnel of other departments, nurses, physicians, patients and families.
• Must be able to demonstrate flexible work habits and skill at setting priorities.
• Must demonstrate enthusiasm and eagerness to perform a variety of assigned duties.
• Must be able to demonstrate patient center/patient valued behaviors.
• Must have computer skills to include data entry, report generation, printing, scanning, faxing, etc.

Responsibilities

• The Unit Technician is expected to be able to perform in the capacity of a Patient Care Assistant and a Health Unit Coordinator.
• Performs phlebotomy tasks and conduct lab draws, as needed for the unit assigned.
• Coordinates patient care and clerical needs by acting as the primary contact for the unit, while assisting and responding to information requests from all employees, patient families and others to effectively service unit staff and customers by providing a permanent information resource within the unit.
• Performs specified patient care activities, under the direction of a Registered Nurse, including but not limited to providing basic hygiene care, injections, venipunctures, sterile and unsterile treatments, taking vital signs, and range of motion exercises. Lifts, ambulates, and feeds patients in accordance with the provision of patient centered/patient valued care, while providing optimal care services to patients and their families. Transports meal trays to patients to ensure sanitary and timely delivery when applicable.
• Serves as a patient advocate by responding to a patient's needs and special requests. Maintains open communication, and honors patient's rights and confidentiality, while providing optimal service to patients and their families.
• Prepares and processes hardcopy and computerized patient files by entering, sorting, and updating information to ensure accurate and complete records are maintained for each patient. Creates reports summarizing key patient information to provide unit decision makers with the tools needed to analyze operations.
• Monitors ongoing patient status and responds to a patient's change in condition by notifying and assisting nurses and other health team members in handling patient care needs.
• Admits, transfers and discharges patients by creating charts, checking rooms, and receiving, logging, and storing patient valuables and nonvaluable to facilitate the administration of patient services.
• Maintains accurate, timely and appropriate notations and records activities performed to include but not limited to unit specific logs, vital signs, ambulation, feeding outcomes, quality control checks, chaperoning. etc. in accordance with standards established by the nursing unit.
• Maintains work environment and patient care areas according to infection prevention and environment of care guidelines, provides or requests translation services when applicable and performs quality control checks.
• Maintains knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, laws, and guidelines that impact the unit. Develops effective internal controls that promote adherence to applicable state/federal laws and the program requirements of accreditation agencies and federal, state, and private health plans. Seeks advice and guidance as necessary to ensure proper understanding.
• Orders, picks-up and delivers medical supplies, non-medical supplies, laboratory requisitions, patient specimens and other items while expediting other routine requests. Ensures work areas are stocked and rotated to ensures removal of supplies prior to expiration date.
• Performs all other duties as assigned by manager or manager's designee.

Job Accountabilities

• Identifies ways to improve work processes and improve customer satisfaction. Makes recommendations to supervisor, implements, and monitors results as appropriate in support of the overall goals of the department and Parkland.
• Stays abreast of the latest developments, advancements, and trends in the field by attending seminars/workshops, reading professional journals, actively participating in professional organizations, and/or maintaining certification or licensure. Integrates knowledge gained into current work practices.
• Maintains knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, laws and guidelines that impact the area. Develops effective internal controls designed to promote adherence with applicable laws, accreditation agency requirements, and federal, state, and private health plans. Seeks advice and guidance as needed to ensure proper understanding.