Polysomnographic Technologist- PRN

Children's National Hospital

3d • $35 - $70 • Onsite

About The Position

Children's National Hospital is hiring a Polysomnographic Technologist for its Sleep Lab. Under the general supervision of the Sleep Lab Manager and clinical director, the technologist provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment of sleep disorders through polysomnography, diagnostic and therapeutic services, and patient care and education. The role may include duties performed by a Polysomnographic Technician and supervision of other staff. The technologist provides safe, effective, age-appropriate care to neonates, infants, toddlers, children, adolescents, and adults and reports to the Manager, Sleep Lab.

The technologist gathers and integrates patient information to determine patient-specific needs and final testing procedures in conjunction with the ordering physician or clinical director and laboratory protocols. Testing may include overnight polysomnography, MSLT, MWT, infant and seizure studies, CPAP/BiPAP and oxygen titration, ambulatory monitoring, and other specialty studies. The position also involves preparing and calibrating equipment, applying electrodes and sensors, fitting PAP masks, monitoring patient safety, recognizing physiological events and implementing appropriate interventions, scoring sleep and clinical events, documenting results, and generating reports.

This is an as-needed, PRN position on the evening shift. The listed pay range is $35.06–$69.55.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Meet at least one of the following: complete an accredited educational program leading to an associate degree with an emphasis in polysomnography; complete a polysomnography program of at least one year associated with a state-licensed or nationally accredited educational facility; or have equivalent experience and documented proficiency in all competencies required of a Polysomnographic Technician.
• District of Columbia license/registration as a Polysomnographic Technologist.
• Certification as a Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT) by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists, or as a Registered Sleep Technologist (RST) by the American Board of Sleep Medicine, or equivalent.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Provider certification.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills with children and families from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with physicians and clinical and administrative staff.
• Ability to integrate a basic understanding of anatomy and physiology with sleep/wake pathology.
• Strong attention to detail, as the technician is responsible for the quality of polysomnogram data.
• Ability to work independently and read maps.
• Physical ability to move, lift, and carry patients and to lift and move equipment and supplies weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Intermediate computer skills.
• Knowledge of regulatory agency requirements, including JCAHO, DCDOH, and HIPAA.

Responsibilities

• Collect, analyze, and integrate patient and psychosocial information to identify and anticipate patient-specific needs.
• Determine final testing parameters and procedures with the ordering physician or clinical director and in accordance with laboratory protocols.
• Screen patients for medications, recent caffeine or alcohol ingestion, current sleep patterns, and potential need for treatment during testing.
• Explain procedures and orient patients and families to the Sleep Center.
• Set up and calibrate equipment for sleep studies and CPAP testing, verify functioning, and make adjustments as needed.
• Apply recording devices, electrodes, and sensors according to published standards and perform physiologic calibrations to ensure proper signals.
• Perform overnight polysomnography, MSLT, MWT, infant and seizure studies, parasomnia studies, CPAP/BiPAP and oxygen titration, ambulatory monitoring, and other specialty procedures in accordance with protocols and APSS standards.
• Obtain and record vital signs, height, weight, and pulse oximetry according to policy.
• Provide patients and families with instruction about treatments, equipment, and sleep testing.
• Ensure patient safety and provide age-specific assessment, treatment, and education for neonatal, pediatric, adolescent, and adult patients.
• Recognize medical problems and physiological events, implement appropriate interventions, and notify the Sleep Lab physician when testing or treatment indications or contraindications arise.
• Evaluate the effectiveness and outcomes of interventions.
• Operate CPAP and BiPAP equipment and patient interfaces, apnea monitors, transcutaneous blood gas monitors, pulse oximeters, and end-tidal CO2 analyzers.
• Follow lights-out and lights-on procedures, establish and document baseline values, verify collected data, and complete data collection.
• Oversee and perform difficult or unusual procedures and therapeutic interventions.
• Maintain, clean, disinfect, and cold sterilize equipment; evaluate equipment and inventory.
• Document patient history, medications, treatments, procedures, observations, sleep stages, clinical events, changes in procedure, and other significant events.
• Score sleep/wake stages and clinical events according to accepted guidelines and center-specific protocols, and generate accurate reports.
• Complete and verify study documentation, computer data entry, and interpretation reports, and archive patient studies.
• Attend in-services, conferences, and workshops; participate in staff and departmental meetings, performance improvement activities, and research projects as needed.
• Assist in maintaining departmental readiness for regulatory surveys.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health coverage, including medical, prescription, infertility, and transgender health services.
• Paid time off, including vacation accrual from day one, sick leave, holidays, and a personal day.
• 401(k) plan.
• Healthcare and dependent care spending accounts.
• Employer-paid life, AD&D, and long-term disability coverage, with optional supplemental plans.
• Tuition assistance.
• Fitness resources.
• Employee assistance.
• Commuter benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Education Level: High school or GED