Kern Medical has been a community cornerstone since its founding in 1867. Today, we are an acute care teaching center with 222 beds, offering the only advanced trauma care between Fresno and Los Angeles.Kern Medical offers a range of primary, specialty, and multi-specialty servicesincluding high-risk pregnancy care, inpatient psychiatric services integrated with county mental health programs, and a growing network of outpatient clinics providing personalized patient-centered wellness care. Kern Medical cares for 15,500 inpatients and 125,000 clinic patients a year.Career Opportunities within Kern Medical include many benefits such as:
- New Hire Premium: +6% of base rate of pay, matched up to 6% if contributed to Deferred Compensation Plan.
- Shift Differential Pay: P.M. shift (7:00 PM - 7:30 AM) = 7.5% of base pay.
- A Comprehensive Benefits Package: includes Holidays, Paid Time Off, Retirement, Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance.
Position: Monitor TechnicianProbationary Period: Twelve (12) MonthsCompensationThe estimated pay for this position is $22.8328 to $28.0815 The rates shown include a 6% premium pay (base= $-$ plus 6%). This reflects only a portion of the total compensation package for this position. Additional compensation may be available for this role through differentials, incentives, and bonuses. In addition, this position may be eligible for participation and company contributions to the Kern County Employees' Retirement Plan.Definition:Under the direction of a Registered Nurse or physician, to observe the patient's electrocardiographic (ECG) rhythms, recognize and report arrhythmias and alarms to nursing and medical staff.Distinguishing Characteristics:Kern Medical's Monitor Technicians assist the professional nursing staff by consistently watching and reporting ECG rhythms. This position requires the ability to read and record medical terminology and metric measurements. In addition, maintain electronic health records, follow oral and written instructions and maintain effective relations with medical staff and the public. The primary duty of monitoring patients ECG rhythms adds a necessary level of quality care for patients.Essential Functions:
- Continuously observes ECG monitors and reports dysrhythmias and alarms to nursing and medical staff as appropriate.
- Continuously observes cardiac rhythm of patients on telemetry monitor.
- Prints and posts ECG strips at designated intervals. Validates computer readout, records, logs data, and interprets rhythms: Heart Rate, PRI, . Compares posted strip to previous strip and notifies nursing staff of changes.
- Cleans and maintains equipment and instruments such as cardiac (ECG) monitor, telemetry transmitter cables, electrodes, and central monitor, strip recorders, and central printers. Notifies Bio Medical Engineering of telemetry or central monitoring equipment repair issues.
- Admits, transfers, and discharges patients from the telemetry monitor.
- Maintains medical record with appropriate rhythm strips and measurements.
- Maintains an accurate census of patients on the unit.
- Answers and directs phone calls to physicians, patients, and personnel. Takes and communicates messages.
- Responds to call lights, notifies nursing personnel as appropriate, and follows-through with meeting patient/family needs.
- Assists in coordinating patient care services and communicates information to ancillary departments for patient testing and movement, isolation, and equipment needs.
- Collaborates and participates in identifying continuous education needs.
- Remains current with all required training and education specific to cardiac monitoring, including department specific requirements.
- Maintains competency in arrhythmia analysis.
- Complies with established personal protective equipment requirements necessary for protection against exposure to blood and other potentially infectious body fluids, chemical disinfectants, radiation, and other hazardous substances.
- Communicates with nursing staff regarding patient alarm settings and maintains nurse and/or physician determined alarm parameters.
- Dependent upon area of practice or department assignments, demonstrates clinical knowledge and skill in the care of the neonate, newborn, infant, toddler, child, adolescent, adult and geriatric patient ranging up to 100+ years of age.
- Treats customers with courtesy, respect, maintains confidentiality and complies with hospital standards of conduct.
Employment Standards:High School Diploma or GED is required. Successful completion of a State of California Department of Health Services approved Nursing Assistant or Medical Assistant program OR 1 year of an education program leading to an Associate's Degree in Nursing Degree or Baccalaureate degree in Nursing OR Two years of experience in a healthcare setting. Previous Monitor Technician experience greater than one year is preferred.Additional Requirements: Within 60 days of employment, must take and pass the Kern Medical ECG course and pass competency exam with a minimum score of 90%. Must maintain current ECG competency on an annual basis and pass tests with a minimum score of 90% as a condition of continued employment.Appointees not possessing the American Heart Association Responder or Provider Basic Life Support (BLS) card at time of hire must successfully complete appropriate training and qualify for the RQI Responder certification within 60 days of employment. As a continued condition of employment, employee must maintain RQI Responder certification and competency.Employees must maintain all health requirements designated by Kern Medical Center.Ability to:Perform non-professional nursing care; read and record medical terminology and metric measurement, demonstrate contemporary computer literacy in order to maintain electronic medical records, follow oral and written instructions; and maintain effective relations with medical staff and the public; stand, bend, squat, kneel, push, and pull throughout the majority of the work day; lift carry, partially carry, of fully support patients while transferring to and from a bed. Wheelchair, or gurney, or while walking.Supplemental:A background check may be required for this classification.All Kern Medical employees are designated Disaster Service Workers. In the event of a disaster or civil disorder, all Kern Medical employees are to remain at work or to report to work in a safe and practicable manner.If position responsibilities require driving a personal vehicle, then possession of a current valid California Driver's License and adherence to the Kern County Hospital Authority Vehicle Use and Driving Standard Policy (ENG-EC-119) is required.If position responsibilities require driving a vehicle owned, leased or rented by Kern Medical, then possession of a current valid California Driver's license, a signed authorization for Release of Drivers Record Information and adherence to the Kern County Hospital Authority Vehicle Use and Driving Standard Policy (ENG-EC-119) is required.