Patient Care Specialist II - Paramedic- Acuity Adaptable Unit

FLSA Status

Job Role Summary

The Patient Care Specialist II is responsible for patient care in the area of assignment under RN supervision while working in the hospital. This position may participate in provision of emergent or immediate care of patients utilizing a healthcare team approach after demonstration of clinical competency in accordance with hospital/nursing policy and procedures and professional practice standards.  This position includes monitoring patient telemetry in the heart station. 

Acuity Adaptable Care at Eskenazi Health represents a broad spectrum of inpatient services across 3 floors of our acute care hospital. Patients admitted to an acuity adaptable unit at Eskenazi Health receive services from a wide variety of clinical specialties including: orthopedics, oncology, cardiology, palliative care, neurology, trauma, medicine, renal, urology, pulmonology, infectious disease, and more.  Acuity Adaptable offers all private rooms as well as telemetry monitoring capability. 

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Responsible for patient care in the area of assignment under RN supervision
• May contribute to and participate in various aspects of the triage process and care of the obstetric/postpartum patient
• Participates in team-based approach for patients after demonstration of clinical competency in accordance with hospital/nursing policy/procedure and professional practice acts
• May perform limited respiratory treatments which may include O2 titration/oximetry, aerosols, IPPD/PPD, multi-dose inhaler treatments, sputum cultures, ABGs
• Performs phlebotomy procedures (i.e., venipuncture, capillary sticks)
• May perform other procedures that include ECGs, dressing changes, medication administration, monitoring telemetry, starting IV-DCs, catheterizations, NG tubes
• May take vital signs; assist/give baths; suctions; monitor Accu-Chek’s; perform orthopedic set-up; collect and test specimens; assist with trach care/ostomy care; perform neuro/vascular checks; take patient weights; counsel/assist with personal care and/or assess maternal and fetal status as necessary
• May apply ACE wrapping; ambulate patients; perform passive range of motion (for patients without complications); stimulate patients (cognitive reorientation/ recognition)
• May perform equipment changes; check emergency equipment/supplies/environment
• May participate in emergent delivery or maternal/newborn resuscitation as indicated
• May perform phlebotomy procedures, including venipuncture and capillary sticks
• May perform other procedures that include medication administration, ECGs, dressing changes, IV starts/DCs, catheterizations, NG tubes, and respiratory treatments
• May perform patient care for inpatients requiring ALS transportation services travelling to another facility or returning to the hospital.
• Documents care according to hospital/nursing policy/procedure.
• Assesses and responds to patient needs.
• Attends/participates in in-service education/quality assurance programs.
• Alters activities/behaviors to reflect/ensure adequate care appropriate to the age of patients served (i.e., adolescent, geriatric, pediatric, neo-natal, adult) as described in unit age-specific and/or job-specific competencies.
• Maintains age and job-specific competencies described according to department-specific competencies.
• May perform patient care for inpatients requiring ALS transportation services travelling to another facility or returning to the hospital.

Associated Job Duties

• May supervise and direct activities and educational/clinical experiences of assigned observers and students
• May contribute to and participate in various aspects of the nursing process under RN supervision
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned
• Monitors accurately recognizes and interprets basic and advanced cardiac rhythm parameters
• Recognizes emergent situations
• Assures and verifies proper lead placement for optimal EKG transmission with nursing staff
• Recognizes, identifies and appropriately prioritizes the need to notify nursing staff of any significant changes in the EKG rhythm
• Enters and maintains patient data into the monitor system, assuring accuracy

Associated Job Duties (cont'd)

• Maintains all needed logbooks and patient medical records in accordance to the Standards of Care and Protocols
• Assists nursing staff with initiation and discontinuation of cardiac monitoring
• Proficiently uses electronic systems, inclusive of the cardiac monitoring system(s) and patient data entry systems
• Prints trend and disclosure reports upon request
• Maintains the monitoring system, promptly notifying Biomedical Engineering and the direct nursing supervisor of any system malfunctions or failures
• Responsible for maintaining the telemetry module packs including cleaning of packs, EKG wires and location of all telemetry packs
• Responsible for notifying nursing staff when low battery indicators occur
• Responsible for giving a detailed shift report to oncoming staff and to the Critical Care Shift Coordinator
• Assures that rhythm strips are placed in patients’ medical records

Job Requirements

•    Active Indiana certification as a Paramedic
•    Current CPR and ACLS certifications 
•    Minimum of 1 year of experience as a Paramedic 
•    Maintains responsibility for continuing education to maintain annual certification as needed

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

•    Basic skills in patient care delivery, equipment and instrument usage appropriate to assigned area
•    Knowledge of practical skills, theory and medical terminology
•    Skill in use of respiratory care equipment (i.e., oxygen devices, ventilators, invasive monitors, etc.)
•    Knowledge of cardiopulmonary anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology and basic respiratory care techniques and modalities
•    Knowledge of intravenous therapy, peripheral lines and venesection
•    Knowledge of endotracheal intubation, cricothyrotomy, pleural decompression, cardiac monitoring, interpretation, defibrillation and cardioversion
•    Knowledge of medications to include use of I.V. and sub-Q; medications to include correct dosages and usage for pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patient population
•    Knowledge of disease symptoms, conditions, treatments, trauma and aseptic techniques
•    Knowledge of equipment and instrument usage appropriate to assigned area
•    Good interpersonal communication skills, accurate reading/recording of information
•    Ability to follow oral/written instructions, communicate/work effectively with a wide variety of people and patients of all ages
•    Must function effectively in stressful or crisis situations, accurately read/record data, be flexible to changing work priorities, assist in assessing and responding to patient needs
•    Knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of patients served
•    Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data/interpret appropriate information needed to identify each patient’s requirements relative to age-specific needs
•    Ability to use age-appropriate communication skills and age-appropriate cognitive abilities, skills and techniques as required in department-specific competencies
•    Basic skills in delivery of patient care, use of equipment and instruments appropriate to assigned unit
•    Strong customer relations skills required 
•    Maintains competency in basic and advance rhythm interpretation skills