Clinical Technician

Westchester Medical Center•Kingston, NY

About The Position

The Clinical Technician works collaboratively with the health care team under the direct supervision of an RN to provide direct patient care, maintain the E.D., ICU, O.B., or Med Surg environment, and perform clerical duties. Candidates must obtain written approval from their Nurse Manager or Director before applying. The role supports patients’ hygiene, mobility, nutrition, elimination, comfort, and safety needs; documents observations and care; assists with procedures and emergency situations; and maintains unit equipment and supplies. Duties may vary by unit and include OB-specific surgical scrub tech competencies and ED-only phlebotomy when directed by an RN.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required.
Minimum direct patient care experience preferred.
Written approval from the Nurse Manager or Director is required to apply.

Nice To Haves

EMS-trained staff are preferred.
One year of nursing school or clinical experience is preferred.
New York State certified nursing assistant qualification is preferred.
BLS certification is preferred.

Responsibilities

Document patient information in records or computer systems, including vital signs, pulse oximetry, intake and output, weights, heights, and point-of-care testing results.
Review CALS with the Charge Nurse or, when partnered with a licensed person, with that partner to understand pertinent patient needs and plans for the day.
Assist patients with personal hygiene, skin care, oral hygiene, ambulation, repositioning, bed making, and use of air mattresses, slides, and lifts.
Transport patients between departments and on discharge, prioritizing safety.
Assist with elimination, including emptying bedpans and urinals, providing perineal care, and performing Foley catheter care and emptying Foley bags.
Maintain hand hygiene and use gloves; clean rooms after patient discharge.
Perform assigned procedures, including tap-water or soap-suds enemas after nursing assessment, non-sterile dressing changes, and emptying post-operative drainage devices other than Foley bags.
Set up oxygen and suction equipment; apply pulse oximeters and telemetry; perform EKGs; and safely store, check, and replace oxygen tanks as needed.
Obtain weights using standing or bed scales; set up nutrition and assist with feeding.
Collect stool, sputum, and urine specimens, including clean-catch and 24-hour urine specimens; perform point-of-care testing such as fingersticks and blood testing.
Apply external catheters, ice bags or packs, Flowtron devices, TED stockings, restraints, and other special equipment; provide spitz baths.
Use cooling and warming devices and lifting and transporting devices, including Maxi Slide and Hoyer lifts; set up, remove, and store traction equipment.
Keep the department neat, order supplies, restock rooms, and send equipment needing repair to BioMed as directed.
Locate equipment and supplies in other departments and communicate between ancillary departments and nursing floors.
Follow isolation and standard precautions, answer call lights, and demonstrate knowledge of emergency situations and codes.
Observe and report relevant information or changes to the nurse, including physical limitations, cultural, age-specific, emotional, pain, and IV needs.
Assist in emergencies, including chest compressions, RRT and Code Blue events, lifting patients after falls, and supporting patients requiring a 1:1 sitter.
Follow the chain of command, demonstrate independent thinking, and comply with patient confidentiality requirements.
Provide post-mortem care, transport bodies to the morgue, and release bodies to funeral directors.
Complete basic telemetry training, identify life-threatening rhythms, and notify appropriate personnel.
Obtain pertinent registration information from patients or families and enter it into the computer or chart.
Use the order-entry system to enter orders and charges and reprint orders.
Perform phlebotomies as directed by an RN in the E.D. only.
Perform duties such as patient transport, maintaining log books, copying and filing charts, collecting JCAHO and Performance Improvement data, and other assigned work.
Perform surgical scrub tech competencies in O.B. only and set up for special procedures.
Serve as a preceptor for PCT I's and PCT II's.
Demonstrate competency and knowledge in handling unit-specific equipment.