Nursing Station Technician - Orthopedics

Fairview Health Services•Woodbury, MN

15h•Onsite

About The Position

Fairview is hiring a Nursing Station Technician for the Med Surg/Ortho 3 South unit at Woodwinds Hospital in Woodbury, Minnesota. The unit has 26 private rooms and cares for adults age 18 and older, including patients recovering from hip, knee, spine, and shoulder surgeries, as well as general medical-surgical and orthopedic patients. Average patient length of stay is 1–3 days. Working under the direction of nursing personnel, the technician provides patient care while functioning as a nursing assistant and health unit coordinator. Duties include patient care, vital signs, bathing, feeding, responding to call lights, transporting patients, maintaining the care environment, using equipment, handling phones and clerical tasks, transcribing information, and coordinating communication on the unit. The role may also work as a patient care attendant. This is a 0.8 FTE position, or 64 hours per two weeks, with 8-hour evening shifts from 3:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. The schedule includes an every-other-weekend rotation (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) and a holiday rotation.

Requirements

Basic Life Support certification from the American Heart Association or Red Cross. OnTrack participants must be able to obtain Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers certification upon completion of the program.
Meet at least one of the following pathways: successful completion of Fairview’s OnTrack Nursing Assistant training program or another Fairview-sponsored Nursing Assistant program; six months of recent direct-care experience in a long-term, home-care, or acute-care setting in an appropriate role such as Nursing Assistant, PCA, Resident Assistant, or Emergency Room Technician; current enrollment in an LPN, RN, or Nurse Practitioner program and completion of one semester of clinical rotation; or current certification on the Minnesota Nursing Assistant Registry upon hire.
Minnesota Nursing Assistant Registry certification does not need to be maintained throughout employment and is not required if subsequently transferring into another Nursing Assistant, Nursing Station Tech, or Nursing Station Attendant position.

Responsibilities

Perform delegated nursing functions for assigned patients, including personal care, ambulation, exercise, nutrition, specimen collection, and vital signs.
Assist patients with personal care while protecting privacy and safety, recognizing comfort needs, and providing appropriate comforting measures.
Respond to patient call lights and recognize when approaches should be adapted for age or cultural background.
Use equipment, supplies, and infection-control techniques appropriately; perform special procedures such as skin care according to unit guidelines and seek assistance in abnormal situations.
Observe patients, assist nurses in monitoring their condition, document care, and promptly report unusual data or changes in condition to the nurse.
Respond appropriately to emergent situations.
Communicate effectively with the health care team, maintain patient confidentiality, provide updates and reports, keep staff informed of schedule changes, and use the established system to contact staff.
Maintain order and cleanliness in patient-care rooms, the central desk, and other assigned areas; assist with admissions, transfers, and discharges; provide courier and escort services as needed.
Maintain the desk area and patient supplies and equipment according to designated standards.
Maintain medical records by ensuring records are complete, current, and appropriately ordered; accurately and promptly transcribe medical orders; file chart reports; and prepare charts and relevant copies for admissions, transfers, and discharges.
Use correct medical terminology and approved abbreviations and symbols.
Schedule patient tests and procedures according to patient needs and changing conditions, coordinate priorities with the health care team, and communicate essential information and special requests to other departments.
Maintain unit communication systems and the central desk area, record scheduled tests and procedures on kardexes and communication boards, handle specimens and equipment according to infection-control practices, and notify appropriate team members when results or other information are available.
Complete clerical duties in an organized, priority-based manner.
Welcome and assist patients, families, visitors, and health team members; answer the telephone according to unit guidelines and customer service principles; and coordinate desk communications courteously and accurately.
Answer patient intercoms promptly and relay requests in a timely manner.
Monitor and coordinate routine ordering and stocking of supplies, forms, and equipment; order individual patient supplies as directed; and notify the appropriate department about equipment needing maintenance and follow up on its status.
Follow designated cost-containment standards, including PAR levels.
Participate in staff development by helping orient new unit staff and sharing knowledge of job priorities and applicable policies, including confidentiality, safety and emergency procedures, and infection control.