MONITOR TECHNICIAN

Short Summary

The monitor technician works as a team member under the direction of the professional registered nurse to promote safe patient outcomes, especially with patients requiring telemetry monitoring. The monitor technician will observe, interpret and document cardiac rhythms as seen on the telemetry EKG monitors. The monitor technician ensures prompt discovery of changes in the heart rhythm and notifies appropriate staff members of such changes. Activities of the monitor technician promote and improve service to patients, staff, and visitors at Insight Hospital.

These duties are to be performed in a highly confidential manner, following the mission, values, and behaviors of Insight Hospital and Medical Center, and the attributes of Careful Nursing. Employees are further expected to provide a high quality of care, service, and kindness toward all patients, staff, physicians, volunteers, and guests.

Job Responsibilities

• Under the direction of the registered professional nurse performs all of the following activities as directed, based on the individual needs of the patient, incorporating the attributes of Careful Nursing.
  • Provides continuous EKG monitoring and interpretation for patients on telemetry.
  • Observes EKG rhythms on the telemetry monitor
  • Interprets EKG rhythm and documents interpretation
  • Runs strip for each CCU patient every two (2) hours and every four (4) hours for each Telemetry Unit patient, interprets strip, labels rhythm, and places strip in assigned location for review by patient's nurse
• Adjusts or replace EKG equipment as necessary for clear signals and optimal monitoring
• Assures that all alarms are set and audible
• When appropriate, instructs patient on use and care of telemetry system, maintains the integrity of the telemetry system, orders and inventories the needed supplies.
• Notifies staff in a prompt and timely manner regarding changes in patient heart rate, rhythm, or other patient information.
• Provides documentation of change, placing rhythm strip in the medical record
• Assists in Code Blue and other emergencies, cardioversion, and/or reprogramming of pacemakers by running EKG strips from the telemetry system as appropriate
• Provides documentation of arterial and swan ganz waveforms in addition to hemodynamic profile (C.O., SVR, CI, etc.) for the medical record
• Provides trending information from monitors as requested
• Accurately labels all rhythm strips, indicates on the patient rhythm strip any drips, Do Not Resuscitate orders, and pacemakers.
• Maintains equipment and supplies for the telemetry system.
• Monitors equipment daily and assures ordering of supplies on a daily/weekly basis
• Completes replacement orders weekly and obtains the signature of the Director
• Documents the location of telemetry monitoring equipment each shift on the Telemetry Transmitter Location sheet, and completes monitor count.
• Cleans lead wires and transmitters after each patient use and return them to storage
• Arranges for sterilization of equipment as needed
• Promptly notifies clinical technical services personnel of malfunction problems with equipment
• Maintains other testing equipment on a unit (glucometers, pacemakers, pulse oximeter, etc.)
• Performs maintenance checks every twelve (12) hours for emergency care, transport monitors, and defibrillators
• In the absence of the clerk coordinator, the monitor technician will be responsible as follows.
  • Reception duties for greeting, directing, and making feel welcome patients, visitors, and staff
  • Assisting patients, visitors, and staff as needed
  • Timely answering of the unit telephone
  • Taking accurate messages and clear communication of messages to staff members
  • Paging and transferring telephone calls as needed
  • Transcription and processing of physician medication orders into the computer system
• Provides orientation for new unit personnel regarding the operation of monitoring and the cardiac system as well as interpretation of rhythm strips.
• Additional Duties and Responsibilities
  • Ensures that care is provided for all patients incorporating the attributes of Careful Nursing, trustworthy collaboration, health education, perfect skill in fostering safety and comfort, and participatory–authoritative management
• Carries out other duties related to patient care and unit operations as assigned.

Requirements

• High school diploma required.
• LPN licensure, successful completion of a cardiovascular program, previous EKG, and CCP experience preferred.
• Basic computer skills preferred
• Ability to quickly recognize changes in the condition and needs of patients.
• Knowledge of patient's growth and development needs.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of accuracy in carrying out work duties.

Insight Employees are required to be vaccinated for COVID-19 as a condition of employment, subject to accommodation for medical or sincerely held religious beliefs.

Insight is an equal-opportunity employer and values workplace diversity!