Health Technician -Telemetry - Acute Care

Veterans Health Administration • Pittsburgh, PA

11d • Onsite

About The Position

The Health Technician works in the Patient Care Service Line under the direct supervision of the Nurse Manager. The Monitor Technician provides continuous cardiac surveillance, interpretation, and reporting of monitor and telemetry tracings for patients in Patient Care Services. The role requires recognizing changes in a patient's condition and assessing when intervention may be needed, including in emergencies requiring immediate attention.

The position also provides and assists with personal care, responds to call lights, takes and records vital signs, collects specimens, performs venipuncture and bladder scans, and supports equipment cleaning and supply restocking. The work schedule consists of rotating tours covering 24/7, with 8-hour and 12-hour shifts. Compressed or flexible scheduling, telework, and virtual work are not authorized.

Requirements

• One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade, GS-05, in the normal line of progression.
• Specialized experience examples include assisting an RN with patient care as directed, providing direct patient observation, assisting with patient transfers and ambulation, responding to call lights and communicating patient needs to nursing staff, and measuring and recording blood pressure, respirations, oral and axillary temperature, weight, and pulse.
• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Selected applicants are subject to a background/security investigation and must complete the online onboarding process.
• Applicants tentatively selected for a VA testing-designated position are subject to urinalysis for illegal drug use before appointment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• A one-year probationary period is required.
• There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Nice To Haves

• Six months of experience as a nursing aide, patient care technician, HCT, or in telemetry.

Responsibilities

• Continuously monitor and analyze cardiac rate, rhythm, and conduction patterns of telemetry patients using the approved telemetry monitoring system.
• Detect abnormal or changing cardiac rates, rhythms, and conduction patterns.
• Monitor non-invasive blood pressure and continuous pulse oximetry (SpO2) alarm events, and promptly validate or invalidate alarm conditions.
• Establish and maintain morphologically suitable, noise-free EKG signals; identify when lead changes are needed based on computer diagnosis and signal clarity.
• Preserve an analyzed six-second strip every eight hours and as needed for rhythm changes.
• Notify appropriate personnel of monitor abnormalities and major or life-threatening cardiac rhythm disturbances.
• Set alarm limits according to policy.
• Admit and discharge patients in the computer arrhythmia system, document the baseline rhythm strip on telemetry admission, and mark monitors with patient location when patients are temporarily off the monitor.
• Give nursing staff verbal requests regarding patient EKG rhythm and complete hand-off communication to the oncoming Monitor Technician.
• Perform or assist the RN with personal care, including hygiene, dressing, and toileting, while maintaining patient privacy.
• Answer call lights and communicate patient needs to the assigned RN or Charge Nurse when unable to assist independently.
• Change linens on occupied and unoccupied beds.
• Measure and record vital signs in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS).
• Measure and empty urine output from urinary catheters.
• Collect and send routine urine, stool, and sputum specimens; obtain nasal MRSA cultures upon admissions, discharges, and transfers.
• Perform venipuncture, draw labs, obtain blood cultures, label specimens, and send them to the laboratory.
• Perform bladder scans to identify retained urine volume and notify the RN or provider of results.
• Clean reusable medical equipment and identify it as cleaned.
• Review supplies for expiration and restock specialty carts, blanket warmers, treatment rooms, and clean utility rooms.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefits depend on position eligibility and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed