Hyperbaric Oxygen Technologist

Nuvance Health has a network of convenient hospital and outpatient locations — Danbury Hospital, New Milford Hospital, Norwalk Hospital and Sharon Hospital in Connecticut, and Northern Dutchess Hospital, Putnam Hospital Center and Vassar Brothers Medical Center in New York — plus multiple primary and specialty care physician practices locations, including The Heart Center, a leading provider of cardiology care.  Non-acute care is offered through various affiliates,

Summary:

The hyperbaric chamber operator is an individual that has documentation of successful completion of a 40-hour National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology (NBDHMT) – approved, Introductory Hyperbaric Medicine Course. The hyperbaric chamber operator assists in the provision of safe and therapeutic management of patient care to an assigned group of patients through the utilization Standards of Practice and policies and procedures and in collaboration with other members of the health care team.

Responsibilities:

Primary Responsibilities

•  Assists in the coordination of hyperbaric patients.
• Assists in the day-to-day operation of the hyperbaric facility.
•  Maintains competencies, continuing education, and certifications as appropriate to the position.
• Performs patient care within the scope of practice as a Nurse (RN or LPN), Respiratory Therapist, EMT, Paramedic.
• Keeps complete and accurate patient records as they pertain to assessment, treatments and documentation of care.
• Participates in quality assurance programs as requested by the Clinical Nurse Manager or Program Medical Director.
• Participates in the safety program.
• Participates in organizational committees and task forces as requested.
• Participates in the discussion and review of articles in the field of hyperbaric oxygen.

Assessment

• Assesses the patient’s level of functioning on admission, transfer and discharge. Differentiates findings from defined limits of normal.
• Uses professional judgment in day-to-day problem solving and decision making. Seeks assistance from Clinical Nurse Manager and peers as needed. Assists others.
• Assesses patient’s educational needs and develops a plan to meet these needs.
• Assesses discharge needs and communicates to team members.

Planning

• Follows the plan of care in collaboration with the patient care team.
• Provides care in consideration of length of stay and patient/family needs.
• Reviews discharge care with patient/family/physician and other team members.

Intervention

• Administers medications and treatments according to patient needs, physician orders and policies, consistent with the scope of care for qualifying credential.
• Participates in patient/family conferences as a member of the patient care team.
• Utilizes patient teaching to provide new information to patient/family. Utilizes patient teaching according to policy.
• Collaborates with Clinical Nurse Manager, physician, and other caregivers to provide effective patient care.
• Makes rounds regularly on assigned patients.
• Documents care on appropriate forms.
• Assures patient and family care award of team members roles and introduces care team on admission.
• Delegates tasks appropriately to team members.

Evaluation

• Evaluates patient’s response to treatment utilizing knowledge of disease process and patient’s story.
• Evaluates patient’s progress on plan of care.
• Evaluates patients continued learning needs and provides feedback to the Clinical Nurse Manager or designee

Other

• Demonstrates flexibility in meeting staffing needs of department.
• Maintains clinical expertise in area of specialty.
• Participates in performance improvement activities.
• Maintains and Models Nuvance Health Values.
• Demonstrates regular, reliable, and predictable attendance.
• Performs other duties as required.

Education Skills Experience

1. Must have a current and valid (state) license or certification in the respective field of qualifying credential (e.g., Registered Nurse, LPN, Respiratory Therapist, EMT or Paramedic)
2. Maintenance of National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology (NBDHMT) qualifying credential
3. Current Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certificate
4. Must have documentation of successful completing of a 40-hour National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology (NBDHMT) – approved Introductory Hyperbaric Medicine Course.
5. Certification as a Hyperbaric Technologist (CHT) successfully obtained within 365 days of eligibility. Eligibility as stated by the National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology (NBDHMT).
6. Should have at least 12 months of recent practical experience in clinical hyperbaric medicine, after meeting the entry-level qualifications and training requirements as delineated in this document for an entry-level hyperbaric technologist.
7. Should have a working understanding of the codes and regulations that govern the operation of a hyperbaric medicine facility.

Location: Poughkeepsie-21 Fox Street

Work Type: Per Diem

Standard Hours: 8.00

FTE: 0.010000

Work Schedule: Day 8

Work Shift: 7:30a-4p

Org Unit: 1185

Department: Wound Care Ctr

Exempt: No

Grade: S7

Salary Range: 

$22.2500 - $41.3200 Hourly

Working conditions:
Essential:
* Significant manual skills / motor coord & finger dexterity
* Little or no potential for occupational risk
* Medium to Heavy effort. May exert up to 35 lbs. force
* Some exposure to dirt, odors, noise, human waste, etc.