What are the responsibilities and job description for the CARDIAC MONITOR TECH position at St Lukes Hospital - St Louis?
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Full Time Nights Chesterfield CampusDescription
Under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse, performs the function of Cardiac Monitor Observer. This includes: observing a designated group of patients on cardiac monitors during a designated time frame, identifying and interpreting cardiac rhythms and dysrhythmias, documenting this activity and communicating these observations to the Charge Nurse or Registered Nurse and/or Physician responsible for the care of the patient. Is responsible for adhering to all established Nursing Standards and Hospital Policies and for promoting teamwork with all members of the healthcare team. Performs duties and responsibilities in a manner consistent with our mission and values.
Principle Accountabilities: % of Time Spent
1. Responsible for knowledge and actions in the care and decision
making for a designated patient population. This is evidenced by: 75%
A. Operating and understanding the cardiac monitoring system.
B. Detecting and accurately interpreting cardiac rhythms and dysrhythmias.
Annual Competency Required.
C. Evaluating and Interpreting Patients rhythm within HP system and documenting per Telemetry Structure Standards.
D. Communicating immediately to appropriate nurse and/or Charge Nurse whenever a change in the patients cardiac rhythm is indicated.
E. Communicating telemetry information over past 24 hours upon physician or nurse request.
F. Evaluating all alarm situations immediately.
G. Evaluating the cause of constant alarming; trouble shoots if appropriate.
H. Assuming responsibility for notifying patients nurse if patient remains off the monitor.
I. Indicating location of patient while off monitor.
J. Checking memory bank at least every shift.
2. Organizes workload, sets priorities and uses time effectively in monitor-related activities: 10%
A. focuses all attention to the monitor and monitoring system.
B. remains at monitor banks unless relieved by another person capable of interpreting cardiac dysrhythmias.
C. reviews all alarm and suspend modes prior to giving/receiving report and periodically throughout shift.
D. receives report at central station in order to correlate visual and verbal data.
E. completes assigned work by end of shift.
F. establishes priorities in response to a changing workload.
3. Identifies crisis and/or stat situations and takes appropriate action promptly. 2%
4. Documents in the HP system in a timely, accurate and concise
manner. 5%
5. Actively participates in the attainment of divisional goals and objectives and assist in 2%
the orientation of new and/or less experienced members of the nursing staff assigned
to the division
6. Responsible for self-directed learning and development by participating actively in 2%
continuing education activities.
7. Responsible for maintaining a safe, clean, orderly environment for patients /self by 2%
observing standards for safety, infection control and universal precautions at all
times:
A. adheres to hospital policy on the handling and disposal of hazardous
materials and infectious waste.
B. recognizes safety hazards and acts to protect patient/self, i.e. Standards for Electrical Safety, Equipment Maintenance, etc.
C. uses all equipment and supplies with all skill and demonstrates knowledge of its operation. When functioning as the Monitor Observer this includes:
1. maintaining all monitor alarms in the on, position.
2. notifying Charge Nurse immediately of any malfunctioning/missing monitors.
3. maintaining monitor station supplies.
D. adheres to the concepts of infection control by complying with standards
for Standard Precautions.
E. appropriately uses Quantros reporting system.
F. adheres to all Hospital/Department/Unit standards for:
1. fire report/drills.
2. disaster reporting/drills.
3. tornado protective measures.
4. bomb threats
G. Cleans patient telemetry monitor box between each patients
use, using cleaning techniques outlined in the operators manual.
8. Performs other work duties as assigned. 2%
Total 100%
Education
High school graduate or GED.
Completion of a basic EKG course at St. Lukes Hospital, or equivalent, in writing, of having passed a recent dysrhythmia interpretation course at another institution.
Experience
1. Demonstrates familiarity with medical terminology.
2. Pursues programs of continuing education, updates and maintains knowledge and skills related to area of practice.
COMPETENCY WILL BE VALIDATED AT LEAST ONCE EVERY THREE YEARS. STANDARDS DENOTING AN ANNUAL OR MORE FREQUENT COMPETENCY VALIDATION ARE LOCATED IN THE SCOPE OF PRACTICE. COMPLETION OF HOSPITAL SAFETY PROGRAMS ARE REQUIRED ANNUALLY.
