ED Technician

Chesapeake Regional Healthcare•Chesapeake, VA

20h

About The Position

The Emergency Department Technician (ED Tech) assists with direct patient care in the Emergency Department and Observation Unit under the guidance and direction of a Registered Nurse. Work is based on accepted standards of emergency and outpatient practice and is performed within the scope of the technician’s education, training, and experience. The ED Tech also orients and assists with training new staff and students, and demonstrates competence in aseptic technique, laboratory services, orthopedic and minor surgical procedures, and care of infant and pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients. The position supports patient care through delegated interventions and procedures, equipment and supply management, specimen collection and processing, assisting providers with procedures, monitoring and documenting vital signs, patient transport, and communication with nurses and other health care team members. The technician follows hospital policies, departmental procedures, infection-control guidelines, and standing protocols, and demonstrates flexibility in scheduling when necessary to ensure patient care.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent, plus post-training as a Certified Nursing Assistant, EMT, Paramedic, Phlebotomist, Medical Assistant, or Medical Office Assistant, or be a Nursing or EMS student.
At least 2 years of experience in a direct patient-care environment, an acute-care facility, or corpsman experience; alternatively, formal phlebotomy, laboratory, EMT, or paramedic training is specified.
Demonstrated competency in aseptic technique, cardiac arrhythmias, laboratory services, and orthopedic and minor surgical procedures.
Current BLS certification.

Responsibilities

Implement interventions and procedures for total patient care as delegated by the RN.
Follow hospital policies and competency requirements for aseptic technique; clean treatment surfaces, promptly report breaks in aseptic technique, and discard contaminated items.
Use supplies and equipment cost-effectively, restock supplies and equipment, and keep bedside areas clean.
Operate Emergency Department and Observation Unit equipment, including electrocardiogram equipment and loading its graph paper.
Perform orthostatic blood pressures, blood glucose monitoring, urine pregnancy tests, urine dipstick tests, and bladder scans.
Prepare STD and wet-prep examinations; collect urinalysis according to departmental procedure; perform phlebotomy; prepare specimens for consulting laboratories; acknowledge, collect, correlate, and deliver specimens to the appropriate laboratory; interpret physician laboratory orders; enter laboratory data; and obtain blood products from the Blood Bank.
Assist physicians and physician assistants with closed reductions, orthopedic procedures, and suturing or stapling; demonstrate crutch walking; apply splints; and fit and apply orthopedic equipment.
Remove sutures or staples under the direction of an RN, physician assistant, or physician.
Insert and remove Foley catheters according to current infection-control guidelines, assist with enemas, insert peripheral intravenous therapy, and remove peripheral intravenous lines and intraosseous access.
Transport patients within the hospital and assist EMS or RN staff with transferring patients to beds.
Ensure vital signs are taken and recorded as directed; promptly notify the nurse and appropriate health care team of pertinent changes in a patient’s condition.
Initiate basic definitive care or life-support measures under RN supervision.
Input physician orders and document vital signs and procedures performed.
Assist the nurse with triage vital signs and charting, and report specific observations to the RN.
Follow procedures for quickly registering or arriving patients in the electronic medical record system upon their arrival to the Emergency Department or Observation Unit.
Communicate triage data to the charge nurse or staff nurse to support bed-placement decisions; bring patients from waiting areas as directed and prepare them for examination.
Document and report clinical findings to the RN completely.
Initiate care and patient-care standards for specific injuries and illnesses as directed by staff and standing protocols.
Attend required hospital-wide orientations, staff meetings, and in-services.
Demonstrate flexibility in work scheduling when necessary to ensure patient care.
Orient and assist with training new staff and students.