Care Technician - Pre-Op/PACU - 30 Hours/Week - Days

Why work for Nebraska Methodist Health System?
At Nebraska Methodist Health System, we focus on providing exceptional care to the communities we serve and people we employ. We call it The Meaning of Care – a culture that has and will continue to set us apart. It’s helping families grow by making each delivery special, conveying a difficult diagnosis with a compassionate touch, going above and beyond for a patient’s needs, or giving a high five when a patient beats a disease or conquers a personal health challenge. We offer competitive pay, excellent benefits and a great work environment where all employees are valued! Most importantly, our employees are part of a team that makes a real difference in the communities we live and work in.

Job Summary:

Responsibilities:

Essential Functions

Provides appropriate care specific to the age of the customer/patient, to ensure understanding and comfort level of treatment, as outlined in the Age Specific Criteria.

• Gives individualized customer service/patient care.

Exhibits excellent interpersonal relations with patients, co-workers, physicians, and guests to ensure effective communication.

• Responds to patient needs promptly and courteously.
• Obtains feedback from patients and visitors regarding their hospital experience.
• Communicates patient issues to the appropriate staff.
• Maintains a positive attitude while responding to requests in a timely and accurate manner.
• Communicates with other members of the health care team (food service, secretaries, housekeeping, etc.) as indicated.
• Actively participates in report process.

Collects blood specimens by venipuncture or skin puncture. Collects Microbiological specimens. The collection of laboratory specimens is used to aid in the assessment of the patients medical condition. Laboratory specimens are collected using proper policies and procedures.

• Consistently performs correct patient identification.
• Consistently collects the appropriate amount of specimen in the correct container for the specified tests.
• Consistently labels all specimens with the required information.
• Consistently transports specimen to the laboratory in a timely manner using appropriate transport procedures.
• Accurately performs computer operations and record keeping pertaining to patient information and phlebotomy duties.
• Consistently observes all safety regulations.

Assists with maintaining an environment conducive to the comfort and recovery of the patient.

• Consistently assists in maintaining of needed equipment (scales, thermometers, etc.)
• Consistently assists in keeping unit as neat and tidy as possible.
• Consistently distributes linen and supplies to patient rooms when needed.
• Performs other duties as delegated and appropriate under the direction of the Service Leader and/or RN to include medication and blood pickup.
• Consistently answers call lights within 5 minutes.

Assists with or participates in certain procedures as directed by the RN and in accordance to nursing policy and procedure.

• Consistently assists in transfer and discharge of patients.
• Weighs assigned patients.
• Consistently takes accurate vital signs including blood pressure.
• Consistently applies ice bags.
• Communicates any changes in patient's condition to RN in a timely fashion.

Assists patients in activities, as directed by the RN.

• Consistently assists with ambulation of patients.
• Consistently assists with transfer or patients to bed, stretchers or wheelchairs.
• Transports patients to other areas as needed.
• Consistently assists with squad patients by changing patient into gown and initiating vital signs.

Performs Electrocardiogram on adolescents through geriatric patients, to ensure appropriate diagnosis, as outlined in procedure manual.

• Ensures EKG results meet quality standards and ensures EKG's are interpreted in a timely manner to provide accurate information for diagnosis, according to policy and procedure manual.
• Maintains appropriate logs and files of EKG's to ensure accurate billing and medical records, according to department policies and procedures.

Assists the patient with elimination as directed by the RN and in accordance to nursing policy and procedure.

• Consistently provides patients with bedpan, urinal, etc., as appropriate and provides pericare when indicated.
• Consistently gives cleansing or retention enemas.
• Consistently observes, measures and records all output to include NG, ostomies, foley, drains, bowel movements, etc.

Directly responsible to the staff nurse and assists in the care of the patient by performing delegated activities utilizing the reciprocal process of the 4 Rights of Delegation.

• Right task (within the scope of practice, according to the job description, and based on the desired outcome, task routine, non-complex, low risk and predictable outcome.)
• Right person (assess competency by certification/licensure, job description, skills checklist, demonstrated skill.)
• Right communication (clear, concise, correct, complete.)
• Right feedback: the Reciprocal Process (timely, specific, checkpoints.)

Provides assistance with special projects.

• Assists with orientation, training new personnel, and performance improvement.
• Utilizes information systems to facilitate communication and documentation.

Promote positive impression and welcoming environment through customer service.

• Courteously greets and gives directions to patients, family members, visitors, physicians, staff, and other customers.
• Maintains safe, clean and neat work environment.
• Has no food at reception area; all drinks must be covered.
• Promote quiet environment at the Reception Desk and in the hallways.
• Demonstrate good communication style and interpersonal communication skills with patients/families.
• Prompt response and follow-up.

Provide appropriate service specific to the age of the customer/patient, to ensure understanding and comfort level of treatment, as outlined in the Population Specific Criteria.

• Identify opportunities and provides individualized customer service according to customer needs.
• Screen visitors according to protocols.

Handle all general communication duties.

• Answers telephones promptly, courteously and with a smile; identifies self and unit.
• Maintains and operates the call and/or phone system.
• Distributes mail if applicable.
• Faxes/copies/scans information as required/requested.
• Makes announcements in a professional manner.
• Contacts caregiver promptly when patients have arrived.
• Maintains privacy and confidentiality of patients and staff information.

Assist with maintenance of electronic medical records.

• Establish the initial patient chart upon admission.
• Maintain chart documents according to protocol.
• Process charts upon dismissal, breaks down chart so available for HIM timely and accurately.
• Help prepare records as appropriate for patient transfers and/or referrals.
• Scan medical documents in a timely and accurate manner.

Schedule:

Set schedule consisting of 3 10-hour shifts per week. Weekend requirement.

Job Description:

Job Requirements

Education

• Completion of Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program preferred.
• Participate in mandatory in-services and continuing education programs as mandated by policies and procedures/external agencies and as directed by supervisor.
• Orientation provided.

Experience

• Previous cleaning, food service and/or patient related experience preferred.
• Requires one to three months on the job experience to learn hospital procedures and work routines.
• Student nurse must have completed first clinical rotation.

License/Certifications

• Current American Heart Association or American Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) strongly preferred at time of hire, required within 3 months of hire.

Skills/Knowledge/Abilities

• Require the ability to understand and carry out instructions, follow schedules, communicate information, read simple and clear instructions and complete reports.
• Must be able to collect, record, and report patient needs to the appropriate caregiver.
• Requires ability to demonstrate critical thinking skills commensurate with job description.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills necessary to communicate with physicians, callers, visitors, patients, family, and team members by verbal and written communication.
• Skills and knowledge in order to prepare reports, perform calculations, keep records, and deal effectively with people.
• Medical terminology preferred.
• Ability to utilize a variety of computer applications.
• Excellent grammar, punctuation, spelling, and presentation layout skills.
• Knowledge of office procedures and principles of record keeping. Ability to read medical records.
• Ability to type 30 to 40 wpm with accuracy.

Physical Requirements

Weight Demands

• Medium Work - Exerting up to 50 pounds of force.

Physical Activity

• Occasionally Performed (1%-33%):
  • Climbing
  • Crawling
  • Kneeling
  • Sitting

• Frequently Performed (34%-66%):
  • Balancing
  • Carrying
  • Crouching
  • Distinguish colors
  • Keyboarding/typing
  • Lifting
  • Pulling/Pushing
  • Repetitive Motions
  • Standing
  • Stooping/bending
  • Twisting
  • Walking

• Constantly Performed (67%-100%):
  • Grasping
  • Hearing
  • Reaching
  • Seeing/Visual
  • Speaking/talking

Job Hazards

• Not Related:
  • Explosives (pressurized gas)
  • Electrical Shock/Static
  • Radiation Alpha, Beta and Gamma (particles such as X-ray, Cat Scan, Gamma Knife, etc)
  • Radiation Non-Ionizing (Ultraviolet, visible light, infrared and microwaves that causes injuries to tissue or thermal or photochemical means)

• Rare (1-33%):
  • Chemical agents (Toxic, Corrosive, Flammable, Latex)
  • Mechanical moving parts/vibrations

• Occasionally (34%-66%):
  • Biological agents (primary air born and blood born viruses) (Jobs with Patient contact) (BBF)
  • Physical hazards (noise, temperature, lighting, wet floors, outdoors, sharps) (more than ordinary office environment)
  • Equipment/Machinery/Tools

About Methodist:

Nebraska Methodist Health System is made up of four hospitals in Nebraska and southwest Iowa, more than 30 clinic locations, a nursing and allied health college, and a medical supply distributorship and central laundry facility. From the day Methodist Hospital was chartered in 1891, service to our communities has been a top priority. Financial assistance, health education, outreach to our diverse communities and populations, and other community benefit activities have always been central to our mission.

Nebraska Methodist Health System is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by Federal, state or local law.