Emergency Department Technician

Overview

Provides compassionate care and support services under the supervision of a registered nurse and/or the Emergency Department provider that assists the patient in the achievement of physical and emotional comfort and healing.

Responsibilities

Performs a variety of treatments and procedures within the State EMS Guidelines, Hospital Guidelines, and as directed by the Emergency Department provider and/or Emergency Department Registered Nurses.

• Demonstrates ability to prioritize duties.
• Takes and records patients’ vital signs.
• Administers personal care. Examples include but are not limited to: Assisting patients to undress and dress; assisting to bathroom, onto bedside commode, bedpan on in use of a urinal; bathing if necessary.
• Assisting in cleansing wounds, setting up suture trays, and applying dressings.
• Assists in calming and/or restraining patients, with physician order.
• Obtains and delivers specimens to the laboratory.
• Splint application.
• Observes patients and reports to RN such things that include but are not limited to: completion of IV infusions, patient complaint of pain, nausea, shortness of breath or changes in vital signs and/or patient condition.
• Performs 12 lead EKGs.
• Administers prescribed enemas and reports results to nurse.
• Insertion and removal of IV’s.
• Performs point of care testing.
• Male ED Tech may insert urinary catheters into male patients, female ED Techs may insert urinary catheters into male or female patients greater than 13 years of age.

Provides emotional support to patients and their families and friends, answering questions within the scope of their knowledge or obtaining the information from appropriate sources.

Accurately documents care provided according to policies and procedures.

Accurately assigns triage categories.

Follows Hospital’s policies and procedures for safety and infection control, including standard precautions in daily activities.

Demonstrates understanding and use of sterile and aseptic technique.

Assists in maintaining the unit in a clean orderly manner

• Does routine stocking of assigned area
• Cleans equipment
• Assists with monthly cleaning of unit and as needed.

Applies safety principles and safe patient handling and mobility concepts to the performance of specific techniques of

           personal and supportive care, such as ambulation of patients, transferring patients, assisting with normal range of  

           motion and positioning and transporting of patients

Initiates and/or assists with CPR.

Answers and receives radio and telephone communication from EMS personnel-does not relay physician orders to EMS personnel.

Provides care related to airway management

• Open and maintain the airway
• Insert oropharyngeal airway adjunct
• Insert nasopharyngeal airway adjunct
• Obstructed airway management
• Oral suctioning
• ET suctioning
• Trach tube suctioning
• Pulse oximeter equipment application/reading
• End tidal CO2 application and reading.

Provides oxygen administration per policy and procedure

• Nasal cannula
• Non-rebreather mask
• Mouth-to-barrier devices
• Ventilation with bag valve mask

Provides Care related to trauma management

• Traction splint application
• Cervical immobilization
• Soft tissue management
• Management of suspected fractures.

    Provides care related to cardiac management to include

• Performing 12 lead EKGs
• Manual and hands off defibrillation
• Cardiac monitor application
• Cardiac monitor strip interpretation
• Synchronized cardioversion, and pacing
• Observes cardiac monitors
• Records monitor strips and report abnormalities to the RN or physician.

Administer PO, SQ, IM, PR or IV medications from a hospital approved list.

     Performs initial and annual competency per job class. Specific ages: neonates, pediatric, adolescent, and adult and geriatric as defined by scope of service.

   Participates in economical utilization of supplies and ensures that equipment and nursing units are maintained in a clean, safe manner.

 Assists in performance improvement (PI) activities by serving on PI teams as warranted, assisting with PI measures and supporting and implementing changes necessary for improvement.

ED Technicians may not intubate patients, hang blood products, administer paralytics or narcotics or insert intraosseous needles in the Emergency Department setting.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed.  They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills of personnel so classified.

DCH Standards:

• Maintains performance, patient and employee satisfaction and financial standards as outlined in the performance evaluation.
• Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook
• Must adhere to the DCH Behavioral Standards including creating positive relationships with patients/families, coworkers, colleagues and with self.

• Performs essential job functions in a manner that ensures the safety of patients, visitors and employees.
• Identifies and reduces unsafe practices that may result in harm to patients, visitors and employees.
• Recognizes and takes appropriate action to reduce risks and hazards to promote safety for patients, visitors and employees.

• Requires use of electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software and intranet.
• Must adhere to all DCH Health System policies and procedures.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Must have Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) - Paramedic training with a minimum of 2-year experience working EMT Paramedic preferred.  Must be ACLS, PALS and BLS certified.  Must be able to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English. Must be familiar with use of computers. High school diploma or equivalent required. Previous experience in providing direct patient care preferred.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Physical:  Physical presence onsite is essential.  Hearing and vision must be normal or corrected within normal range.  Able to perform duties with or without reasonable accommodation. Ability to tolerate prolonged periods of standing and walking.  Ability to lift and carry 50 pounds with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds.  Is able to push stretcher/wheelchair with average adult patient.  Is able to do frequent stooping and on occasion crouching, crawling or kneeling.  Ability to reach reasonable distances in any direction.  Ability to run in emergency situations.  Must be able to move fingers in a coordinated manner.  Must have ability to feel and perceive temperature, texture, shape and size with fingertips. 

Environmental:  Includes exposure to human body fluids, disease, infection, lab chemicals and hazard materials and/or cleaning solutions.  Requires wearing common protective or safety equipment.

Psychological:  Includes receiving delegation, working with team members, addressing conflict, and communicating with all types of personalities.