Polysomnographic Technologist

Amery Hospital & Clinic•Saint Louis Park, MN

20d•$32 - $48

About The Position

The Polysomnographic Technologist works under medical supervision to perform and evaluate overnight polysomnograms, independently operating sophisticated medical equipment to record sleep/wake physiology. Duties include applying recording devices, cleaning and sterilizing equipment, and monitoring polysomnograms. The technologist must recognize sleep pathology in the laboratory and respond appropriately to ensure patient safety. The role requires knowledge of normal cardiorespiratory, neurologic, and sleep physiology, as well as the equipment used to monitor and record airflow and respiratory effort, brain waves, heart rate and rhythm, muscle activity, and blood oxygenation. The technologist monitors nasal continuous positive pressure and oxygen, and uses ventilatory assistance devices according to established protocols. Additional procedures include multiple sleep latency testing, pediatric polysomnography, ambulatory monitoring, and patient education. Basic Life Support certification is required. Reviewing and scoring polysomnograms is an integral part of the position and may take as much time as data acquisition. The technologist identifies normal and abnormal patterns, artifacts, and sleep/wake stages, and generates an accurate, concise report summarizing sleep/wake stages, respiratory and cardiac events, limb movements, arousal analysis, and other clinical events.

Requirements

High school diploma/GED and on-the-job training in polysomnography of at least one year, associated with a state-licensed and/or nationally accredited facility, and successful passing of the RPSGT exam.
Certification by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists as a Registered Polysomnographic Technologist, or registry eligibility.
Certification in Basic Cardiac Life Support.
Knowledge of age-related growth and development principles necessary to provide appropriate service and ensure patient safety.
Knowledge of normal cardiorespiratory, neurologic, and sleep physiology, and of equipment used to monitor and record sleep-related measurements.

Responsibilities

Perform and evaluate overnight polysomnograms under medical supervision.
Operate medical equipment to record sleep/wake physiology.
Apply recording devices and clean and sterilize equipment.
Monitor polysomnograms, recognize sleep pathology, and respond with appropriate interventions to ensure patient safety.
Monitor nasal continuous positive pressure and oxygen, and employ ventilatory assistance devices according to established protocols.
Perform multiple sleep latency testing, pediatric polysomnography, and ambulatory monitoring, and provide patient education.
Review and score polysomnograms; identify normal and abnormal patterns, artifacts, and sleep/wake stages.
Generate accurate, concise reports summarizing sleep/wake stages, respiratory and cardiac events, limb movements, arousal analysis, and other clinical events.