Unit Technician - Med/Surg ICU PT Nights

Unit Technician

Under the supervision of a RN or LVN, the Unit Technician works cooperatively with all team members in performing basic nursing care and general department support duties. The Unit Technician is accountable for all patient care he/she gives. The Unit Technician is responsible for adhering to all standards of care and for promoting teamwork among coworkers. The Unit Technician performs clerical and receptionist duties and assists clinical personnel with nonclinical duties.

Core Competencies

• Prepares room for admission including disassembling room after transfers or discharges, eg empties suction canisters, cleans commodes, removes all equipment and supplies and restocks.
• Provides care as directed including but not limited to: gives baths, oral hygiene, skin care, backrubs, assists patients in ambulating, positions patients and changes position appropriately according to care plan instructions, ensures patient receives prescribed diet; assists with feedings as needed, places tray conveniently for patient, collects specimens as instructed using appropriate technique, takes vital signs as directed and reports to RN
• Assists/performs treatments as directed by RN including: heights, weights, enemas, foley care, application of binders, FSBS, and post mortem care; others as directed, provides continuous patient observation when directed.
• Assists the RN with the following: answers telephone, patient call lights and pages promptly and relays message to appropriate person in a timely manner, cares for the patient in traction, applies restraints and manages combative patients/visitors, observes IVs, performs shave preps, applies and monitors oxygen, ensures bedrails are up on medicated patients, assists with postoperative coughing, turning, deep breathing, and performs procedures in the Nursing Attendant job category as directed by RN/LVN, applies physical pressure after A-line removal by RN or MD; applies EKG leads to patients and sets up monitors, performs basic and 12 lead EKGs in ICCU, prepares patient for examinations and treatments and sets up equipment and supplies for bedside procedures, obtains blood and blood products from Blood Bank, transports patients.
• Demonstrates skill, knowledge, efficiency, and accuracy in independently performing responsibilities related to male urological care including but not limited to: Observes for bladder distention, catheterizes male patients as directed by a RN and with physician order using aseptic technique, checks for residual urine, inserts retention catheters, applies condom catheters, inserts foley catheters
• Provides patient comfort and safety: ensures patient privacy, keeps skin dry, clean, and reports any reddened areas, ensures that comfort supplies are easily accessible, eg tissues, water, grooming supplies, makes beds ensuring cleanliness and comfort, inventories patient belongings on admission, transfer, and discharge ensuring safe disposition, monitors and ensures safety of patients in restraints and on suicide precaution
• Assists with transfer/transport of patients who arrive or leave via helicopter, transports patients throughout the hospital via stretcher, bed, and wheelchair, assists with post-mortem care and transports to the morgue.
• Transports patients into and through the hospital.
• Reports any changes in patient condition to RN.
• Documents accurately in the patient record all activities.
• Documents accurately on I and O sheets all intake and output for assigned shift, including gomco, suction, hemovac, T-tubes and foley outputs, NG Tubes, colostomy and rectal bag drainage.
• Documents care provided and patient responses according to policies and procedures.
• Orients/instructs patient/family regarding the physical environment, routines and general rules: call system, bed controls, telephone, television, visitor policy, meal times, bathroom/shower, smoking policy, roommate introduction
• Demonstrates competency in interpersonal relationships and providing health care services with the following age groups as applicable to job functions and as appropriate in regularly assigned clinical areas: Adolescent: 12 years - 18 years Adulthood: 19 years - 45 years Middle Adult: 45 years - 59 years Late Adult: 60 years - 79 years 80 years >
• Assists with transfers ensuring secure and complete transfer: collects personal belongings, assists patient to wheelchair/gurney, accompanies patient to new room, provides patient with call light
• Assists with discharges: helps patient collect belongings takes patient to car/lobby makes appropriate notation in medical record.
• Maintains a safe working environment: ensures unit equipment accounted for and in good working order with support of Biomed Department, ensures beds are in low position and locked at all times, assists patients with moving/ambulating as needed, keeps room free of clutter, observes all safety guidelines, ensures corridor walkways are free of equipment/clutter (eg clean core), keeps hallway clear
• Adheres to infection prevention guidelines, uses good hand washing technique adheres to isolation policy including Standard Precautions, helps keep unit clean, disposes of infectious waste properly
• Initiates appropriate emergency measures for cardiac/respiratory arrest.
• Answers the telephone and patient call system promptly and courteously and relays calls/messages to the appropriate person in a timely manner.
• Participates in code situations as directed (eg Code Blue, Orange, Green, Gray, Pink, and Red).
• Assists in maintaining a well functioning unit by: orders appropriate supplies for patient care, refills nurse servers, places charge documents in appropriate place, removes broken equipment per policy, assures all equipment is in good working order including testing and calibrating accurately.
• Performs testing, quality control and maintenance procedures including downloading data on glucose monitoring devices.
• Prepares and maintains automated communication system for shift-to-shift operation including distribution and collection of equipment in Critical Care area.
• Relieves secretaries to answer phones.
• Inputs orders into the computer and copies charts as requested.
• Orients new personnel to unit, equipment and routines.
• Assists other team members by offering assistance to distribute the workload.
• Participates in clinic activities: Attends unit and Medical Center staff meetings/inservices, is responsible for reading and comprehending all posted minutes and memos.

Department Specific Competencies

• Notifies RN of the EKG and any alert regarding critical results.
• Recognizes basic cardiac rhythms including EKG changes of acute MI, V TACH, V Fib or heart block and provides intervention as indicated.

License / Certification Requirements

• CNA Certificate or EMT Certification
• BCLS or ACLS Certification from the American Heart Association
• Basic arrhythmia and/or 12-lead ECG course or equivalent work experience

Compensation Range$24.00 - $31.51 / Hour