Rehab Nurse Tech Ortho Musculoskeletal Unit Full Time Days 12 Hour Shifts

Northwestern Memorial Healthcare•Wheaton, IL

3d•$20 - $26

About The Position

The Rehabilitation Nurse Technician (RNT) works on Three East, a 21-bed unit specializing in orthopedic and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. The unit treats patients with joint replacements, amputations, arthritis, diseases affecting bones and muscles, and orthopedic trauma. The RNT is part of an interdisciplinary rehabilitation care team and supports patients and families in working toward independence and adjusting to health conditions and disabilities. The role serves adults and children. Under the direction, delegation, and supervision of a registered nurse, the RNT assists patients with activities of daily living, mobility, skin care, bowel and bladder programs, and maintaining a clean and safe environment. Additional duties include technical procedures such as de-escalation and 12-lead EKGs, participation in quality projects, equipment inventory and maintenance, and precepting new RNT employees. The position follows organizational policies, ethics, compliance requirements, and applicable regulatory and accreditation standards.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Current Nursing Assistant certification (C.N.A.), or current enrollment in an RN nursing program with successful completion of two clinical rotations.
Current CPR certification.
Basic math skills.
Ability to communicate with a wide variety of people and provide a high level of customer service.
Understanding and support of Northwestern Medicine's mission and values.
Flexibility and ability to manage work in a changing environment.

Nice To Haves

Two to five years of work experience in a rehabilitation hospital, acute care hospital, or skilled nursing facility.

Responsibilities

Collect and report physiological, psychological, and functional data relevant to the patient's care plan or needs.
Assist and instruct patients with personal hygiene and activities of daily living, promoting independence and skill practice.
Perform preventive skin care as directed by the RN and promptly report changes in skin integrity.
Assist with bladder and bowel training, post-void residuals, bladder scans, catheterization for select patient populations under RN direction, and care of catheters and ostomies.
Obtain and document vital signs and pulse oximetry, and report concerning values, symptoms, or signs of distress to the RN.
Assist patients with transfers and mobility using appropriate techniques, precautions, and assistive devices; practice delegated therapy transfers and ambulation within safe patient-handling guidelines.
Assist with applying assistive devices, prosthetics, and orthoses according to the care plan.
Assist patients with menus, distribute meal trays and snacks, verify modified diets, document calorie and carbohydrate counts and intake and output, and provide ordered 1:1 feeding assistance.
For patients with dysphagia, cue use of prescribed swallowing strategies under RN direction.
Answer and triage call lights and respond promptly to patient care needs.
Prepare patient rooms for therapy and obtain weekly weights, or daily weights as ordered, using an appropriate method and escalating changes.
Collect laboratory specimens as directed by the RN and obtain blood glucose measurements and 12-lead EKGs as ordered.
Transfer patients to wall or tank oxygen or tube feedings in preparation for therapy.
Provide supervision, activities, or restraint use for patients at risk of falls or injury; serve as a safety 1:1 when needed.
Perform regular comfort and environmental safety rounds and use de-escalation techniques for agitated or aggressive behavior.
Maintain and organize unit equipment inventories.
Precept new employees and partner with RNT-certified nursing students during clinical rotations.
Serve on the Cardiac Arrest team and perform high-quality CPR.
Participate in bedside handoff and other duties assigned by nursing leadership.
Participate in system and local quality-improvement goals, collect data, conduct audits for Joint Commission readiness and improvement projects, and help maintain regulatory readiness.
Maintain therapeutic, customer-focused relationships and communicate effectively and sensitively with patients, peers, and hospital staff; triage patient and general concerns to the RN.
Follow infection-control policies, patient-safety practices, and applicable precautions, codes, conditions, warnings, and safety procedures.
Rotate to units based on patient-care needs and adapt to changes in policies, procedures, units, and patient populations.