Health Technician (Monitor Watcher)

Summary

This position is in the PCS Critical Care - Nursing and Patient Care Service at the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center which assist - serve medical providers - and nursing staff of the inpatient Wards/ICU/Stepdown. The incumbent gathers - reports standard and life-threatening situations of electrocardiographic (EKG) tracings from a centralized monitoring station. The station obtains input from bedside monitors and remote telemetry patients and remote pulse oximetry and hemodynamic measures.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. You may qualify base on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-05 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. One year of specialized experience to include support duties to medical or health personnel such as medical officers and nurses. Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge - skills - and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position - and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: Recognize and differentiate and interpret EKG tracing - acting promptly to read and report deviations. Attaching patient to cardiac telemetry monitors and telemetry packs. Performs administrative tasks within computer programs and performs quality assurance audits. Assists with ordering and stocking of supplies and other equipment on the unit. Initiate Code Blue communication and aid in emergency situations. Collecting - labeling - and packaging telemetry packs. Shares information with new staff and will assist the professional staff in quality improvement activities. Uses proper storage - cleaning and disposal of reusable medical equipment. This experience must be detailed in your resume to receive credit. OR - Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have at least 4 years of education above high school leading to a Bachelor's degree or higher to substitute education for experience. A transcript or course listing MUST be submitted if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Applications submitted without this information may not be considered. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience - including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g. - Peace Corps - AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g. - professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies - knowledge - and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience - including volunteer experience. Physical Requirements: The work requires visual accuracy and dexterity and sitting for the tour of duty. The Health Technician continuously observes a group of monitors each with up to (14) individual wave forms. There is significant eye fatigue and stress as the work is repetitious and critical to the care and survival of multiple critically ill patients.

Duties

• The duties of the position may include but are not limited to the following: Clinical Functions (Technical Duties) Monitoring: Monitors cardiac rhythms while recognizing - differentiating and interpreting EKG tracings
• Resolves promptly - when necessary - based on Incumbent's recognition of irregular conditions and interpret physician orders to report the irregular condition
• Reviews potential complications of medical and surgical conditions and their effect on the patient's waveform - to take prescribed action to prevent or minimize patient status changes
• Informs appropriate personnel of pertinent changes in patient rhythm in a timely manner - as well as provide ongoing information based on personal observations of EKG monitors - pulse oximetry and other critical monitor alarms
• Supports monitoring of treatments and/or procedures performed at the bedside
• Maintains knowledge of medical terminology - common diseases affecting the patient populations - the cardiac cycle and the electrophysiologic function of the heart
• Procedures: Reports any pertinent information to the professional staff to aid in patient care planning
• Initiates Code Blue Communication via telephone operator as directed
• Aids as directed in emergency situations
• Prints EKG strips during elective cardioversion and during code situations
• Documents patient care observations and information according to ICU/Stepdown Unit Policy/Procedure on appropriate forms including analyzing and archiving rhythm strips to the appropriate records at least every eight hours for each patient
• Documents in each record specific characteristics of each rhythm providing a summary of each patient's heart rhythm activity to the professional staff at least every shift or more often as necessary
• Performs standardized and routine highly specialized procedures including monitoring during cardioversions/transesophageal echocardiograms
• Obtains - programs and sets up telemetry packs for inpatients with telemetry orders
• Patient Safety: Collaborations with Charge and staff nurses reporting any and or all issues that may delay or impact the flow of patient safety and/or care on the unit
• Attaches patient to cardiac telemetry monitors or portable telemetry packs following hospital protocol and practices within their scope of care as assigned
• Notifies Charge and/or staff nurses immediately if patient having any difficulties or uncharacteristic readings
• Assures the sharing of information with staff with handoffs and will assist the professional staff in quality improvement activities
• Possess the knowledge of the recording equipment - to include - but not limited to the mechanics of - the clinical access application - ability to competently operate and repair minor malfunctions and will initiate the equipment malfunctions for repair
• Informs unit management of equipment situations in a timely manner and is accountable for location and daily maintenance of all telemetry packs - and transport monitors
• Adheres to proper use - storage - cleaning and disposal of Reusable Medical Equipment (RME)
• RME is any medical equipment designed by the manufacturer to be reused for multiple patients
• Serves as initial contact to obtain - read and follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) or established guidelines for all RME in use in their clinical area prior to use
• Logs cleaning procedures on all telemetry units to assure devices meet guidelines for RME between patients
• Administrative Functions: Assists with entering/editing/researching or cancelling required actions within computer programs such as Clinical Access - Electronic health record - and the Inpatient Bed Board
• Provides filing - organizing - and performing quality assurance audits of records
• Assists with the ordering and stocking of clerical supplies and other equipment on the unit as needed or requested by staff members
• Conducts troubleshooting to alleviate common issues that may arise with the use of complex clerical equipment such as printers - copiers - fax machines - and scanners
• Performs various support functions as directed including but not limited to - providing information on patient locations - recording - and maintaining unit records - obtaining all necessary monitor supplies - double checking transport monitors and the maintenance of the monitors in a constant state of readiness
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: 7:30am to 4:00pm - Rotate weekends and holidays
• To be determined by hiring manager
• Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician (Monitor Watcher)/PD93444-A Promotion Potential: There is no promotional level
• Selection at the GS-5 is to the full performance level.