Monitor Tech

Description

Join Andalusia Health in Andalusia, AL, an 88-bed, Joint Commission–accredited hospital that has earned chest pain and heart failure accreditations, and designation as a Baby-Friendly hospital. Andalusia delivers a broad range of inpatient and outpatient specialty services while embracing a shared commitment to patient safety and high-quality care. Grow your career with Andalusia, where we value your contributions to the community we serve.

Job Summary

The Monitor Technician provides continuous cardiac rhythm surveillance for patients receiving telemetry monitoring. The position accurately interprets cardiac rhythms, recognizes clinically significant changes or potentially life-threatening dysrhythmias, and promptly communicates findings to the registered nurse or other appropriate clinical staff. The Monitor Technician maintains reliable monitoring coverage, including coverage during nursing breaks or other temporary absences, and supports safe, effective use of telemetry equipment and accurate monitoring documentation.

Essential Functions

• Continuously observes telemetry monitors and accurately interprets cardiac rhythms for assigned patients.
• Recognizes normal and abnormal rhythms, rhythm changes, artifact, and potentially life-threatening dysrhythmias requiring prompt clinical attention.
• Immediately communicates significant rhythm changes, alarms, or other concerning findings to the registered nurse, charge nurse, or other designated clinical staff in accordance with established escalation procedures.
• Provides uninterrupted telemetry monitoring coverage for assigned patients, including coverage during nursing breaks, meal periods, or other temporary absences as assigned.
• Reviews available patient and telemetry information to establish baseline rhythms and identify changes from prior patterns.
• Maintains accurate, timely documentation and records of monitored patients, rhythm observations, alarms, and notifications in accordance with facility procedures.
• Assigns, sets up, and maintains telemetry transmitters, leads, wires, and monitoring equipment for patients with telemetry orders.
• Responds appropriately to monitor alarms and verifies signal quality, lead placement, and equipment function to distinguish true rhythm changes from artifact.
• Troubleshoots telemetry equipment and promptly reports unresolved equipment issues or malfunctions to the appropriate department or supervisor.
• Cleans and prepares telemetry equipment for reuse in accordance with infection prevention and equipment-handling procedures.
• Maintains awareness of the location and monitoring status of assigned patients and communicates interruptions or loss of monitoring promptly.
• Performs other duties within the scope of the position as assigned.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities/Expectations

• Demonstrated ability to accurately identify and interpret cardiac rhythms and understand their clinical significance.
• Ability to recognize rhythm changes or findings requiring immediate intervention and promptly follow established notification and escalation procedures.
• Ability to maintain sustained attention and situational awareness while monitoring multiple patients simultaneously.
• Knowledge of telemetry equipment, alarm functions, lead systems, signal quality, and common sources of artifact.
• Ability to prioritize alarms and clinical communications in a timely, calm, and accurate manner.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills for communicating critical findings and documenting monitoring activity.
• Ability to provide dependable monitoring coverage during staff breaks or other temporary absences without interruption in surveillance.
• Ability to follow policies related to patient safety, confidentiality, infection prevention, and equipment handling.

Qualifications

Education

• High School Diploma or Equivalent including education equivalent to completion of secondary school or demonstrated ability to perform the essential functions of the role. (Required)
• Postsecondary (Cert/Diploma/Program Grad) Completion of a formal cardiac rhythm interpretation, telemetry, ECG/EKG, or equivalent training program (Preferred)

Licenses/Certifications

• BCLS - Basic Life Support from AHA or other approved program Upon Hire or within facility-specified time frame (Required)
• EKG - Electrocardiogram Certification or telemetry certification Upon Hire or within facility-specified time frame (Preferred)
• Successful completion of the organization/facility cardiac rhythm interpretation competency is required before independent monitoring duties are performed and must be maintained as required by policy.

Experience

• Prior Experience in cardiac rhythm interpretation, telemetry monitoring, ECG/EKG interpretation (Required) Or
• Prior Experience including comparable formal training that includes demonstrated rhythm-recognition competency (which may be acquired post-hire but before independent monitoring) *See Additional Qualification Clarification