MONITOR TECHNICIAN

INSIGHT Surgical Hospital•Chicago, IL

About The Position

The Monitor Technician works as a team member under the direction of a professional registered nurse to promote safe patient outcomes, especially for patients requiring telemetry monitoring. The technician observes, interprets, and documents cardiac rhythms displayed on telemetry EKG monitors, promptly identifies rhythm changes, and notifies appropriate staff. The role supports patient, staff, and visitor service while following Insight Hospital and Medical Center’s mission, values, confidentiality expectations, and attributes of Careful Nursing. Employees are expected to provide high-quality care, service, and kindness to patients, staff, physicians, volunteers, and guests. The technician also maintains telemetry and other unit testing equipment and supplies, assists with emergencies and patient-care operations, provides orientation to new unit personnel, and may take on reception and clerical duties in the absence of the clerk coordinator.

Requirements

High school diploma required.
Ability to quickly recognize changes in patients’ condition and needs.
Knowledge of patients’ growth and development needs.
Ability to maintain a high degree of accuracy in carrying out work duties.

Nice To Haves

LPN licensure preferred.
Successful completion of a cardiovascular program preferred.
Previous EKG experience preferred.
CCP experience preferred.
Basic computer skills preferred.

Responsibilities

Under the direction of the registered professional nurse, perform assigned activities based on individual patient needs and the attributes of Careful Nursing.
Provide continuous EKG monitoring and interpretation for patients on telemetry.
Observe EKG rhythms on the telemetry monitor, interpret them, and document interpretations.
Run and label rhythm strips at the required intervals: every two hours for each CCU patient and every four hours for each Telemetry Unit patient; place strips in the assigned location for nurse review.
Adjust or replace EKG equipment as needed to ensure clear signals and optimal monitoring, and ensure alarms are set and audible.
When appropriate, instruct patients in the use and care of the telemetry system; maintain system integrity and order and inventory supplies.
Promptly notify staff about changes in patient heart rate, rhythm, or other patient information, and document changes by placing rhythm strips in the medical record.
Assist during Code Blue and other emergencies, cardioversion, and pacemaker reprogramming by running EKG strips from the telemetry system as appropriate.
Document arterial and Swan-Ganz waveforms and hemodynamic profiles, including C.O., SVR, and CI, for the medical record.
Provide monitor trending information when requested.
Accurately label rhythm strips and indicate drips, Do Not Resuscitate orders, and pacemakers on patient rhythm strips.
Maintain telemetry equipment and supplies; monitor equipment daily, ensure supplies are ordered daily or weekly, and complete weekly replacement orders with the Director’s signature.
Document telemetry monitoring equipment locations each shift on the Telemetry Transmitter Location sheet and complete the monitor count.
Clean lead wires and transmitters after each patient use and return them to storage; arrange equipment sterilization as needed.
Promptly notify clinical technical services personnel about equipment malfunctions.
Maintain other unit testing equipment, including glucometers, pacemakers, and pulse oximeters.
Perform maintenance checks every twelve hours for emergency-care equipment, transport monitors, and defibrillators.
In the absence of the clerk coordinator, greet and direct patients, visitors, and staff; provide assistance; answer the unit telephone promptly; take accurate messages and communicate them clearly; page and transfer calls; and transcribe and process physician medication orders in the computer system.
Orient new unit personnel to monitoring and cardiac system operation and rhythm-strip interpretation.
Ensure patient care reflects Careful Nursing, trustworthy collaboration, health education, safety and comfort, and participatory-authoritative management.
Carry out other duties related to patient care and unit operations as assigned.