Unit Assistant/Monitor Tech- Central Telemetry

Carle Health•Normal, IL

3d•$18 - $29

About The Position

Performs continuous observation, interpretation, and documentation of cardiac rhythms for telemetry patients, and promptly notifies appropriate nursing staff of changes. Works as part of the patient care team to support daily nursing-unit operations and perform indirect patient-care duties, including chart management, ordering supplies, answering phones, and responding to call lights. The role includes preparing telemetry monitor records for new admissions, verifying patients and monitor placement with floor staff, and obtaining and interpreting ECG tracings. During each shift, the monitor tech observes rhythms, records ECG measurements and variances at least every 12 hours or as needed, checks on patients temporarily off telemetry, monitors ST segments for CVCU and ICU patients unless directed otherwise by the assigned RN, and reviews alarm history. The position supports emergency and cardiac procedures by running ECG strips as appropriate and follows protocols for reporting and documenting rhythm changes, equipment or signal issues, patient location changes, and telemetry removal or reinstatement. The Unit Assistant/Monitor Tech communicates clearly with floor staff, maintains accurate patient and monitor information, ensures life-threatening arrhythmia alarms remain active, and promptly reports matters requiring registered nurse or department-leadership attention. The role also includes clerical and unit-support duties, participation in training and continuing education, training new monitor technicians, and reporting patient-safety concerns while following patient-safety practices.

Responsibilities

Continuously observe and interpret cardiac rhythms for monitored patients and communicate rhythm changes to appropriate staff.
Follow designated telemetry protocols and guidelines.
Prepare the monitor data bank for patients newly ordered for telemetry, verify patient identity and monitor placement with floor personnel, and obtain and interpret an ECG tracing for each new patient.
Obtain, interpret, and document ECG tracings, including rhythm, rate, PR, QRS, and QT measurements and any ectopy or other variances, at least every 12 hours, when changes occur, or at staff request.
Make timely checks on patients who are off telemetry for tests or procedures.
Maintain continuous ST-segment monitoring for CVCU and ICU patients unless directed otherwise by the assigned RN.
Review alarm history each shift, document a summary, and notify staff as appropriate.
Assist during Rapid Response or Code Blue events, cardioversion, medication mediation for arrhythmias, and pacemaker reprogramming by running ECG strips as appropriate.
Follow notification and documentation protocols for rhythm changes, signal or equipment problems, patient-location changes, and removal or reinstatement of telemetry.
Notify floor staff about low batteries, poor signal, loose or disconnected lead wires, incorrect lead placement, and related issues.
Answer and direct telephone calls and take accurate, complete messages.
Answer call lights and locate appropriate staff to respond.
Perform support duties such as typing, filing, and copying as requested.
Label ECG tracings with the patient's last name, room number, medical record number, date and time, and the interpreting monitor technician's initials.
Ensure alarms for life-threatening arrhythmias remain on at all times.
Label the monitor bank with applicable patient procedures or tests, temporary location, treatments, IV drips, DNR status, AICD, and pacemakers.
Enter patient data into the central telemetry monitor data bank.
Promptly report situations requiring the attention of a registered nurse or department leadership.
Attend and actively participate in in-services, meetings, and continuing education programs.
Train new monitor technicians.
Report potential patient-safety issues promptly and follow behavioral and procedural patient-safety practices.