Unit Technician - Observation Unit

Parkland Health; Florida; On-site; USD 25,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Parkland Health is seeking an Observation Unit Technician for the night shift. The role combines patient care, clerical duties and unit coordination to ensure efficient, compassionate service for patients, families and staff.

You will perform phlebotomy, manage charts, and assist with vital signs under RN supervision. Qualifications include nurse aide, medical assistant, or patient care technician training with at least one year of acute care experience and Heartsaver CPR certification within 90

Qualifications

• One year acute care hospital experience.
• Must have current Heartsaver CPR within 90 days of hire.
• CPR certification from American Heart Association or American Red Cross.
• Strong communication with patients, families and staff.
• Proficient in data entry and basic patient record keeping.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the unit's primary contact and assist with information requests.
• Perform phlebotomy tasks and lab draws as needed for the unit.
• Coordinate patient care and clerical needs for smooth unit operation.
• Provide basic hygiene care, injections and routine treatments under RN oversight.
• Transport meals and assist with patient mobility and comfort.
• Advocate for patients and maintain confidentiality and privacy.
• Prepare and update patient files; generate reports for unit decisions.
• Monitor patient status and notify nurses of changes.
• Admit, transfer and discharge patients; manage rooms and valuables.
• Maintain infection control and unit cleanliness; coordinate supplies.
• Stay informed on rules and guidelines; support compliance.
• Order, pick up and deliver supplies and requisitions as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned by management.

Skills

Phlebotomy

Communication

Prioritization

Patient care

Computer skills

Flexibility

Education

Nurse aide course

Certified nurse aide registry

Medical assistant course

Medical assistant certificate

Patient care technician course

Patient care technician certificate

In accredited nursing program (fundamentals)

Graduate from accredited nursing school

Parkland training program

Tools

EMR systems

Phlebotomy equipment

Lab requisitions handling

Job description

Observation Unit - Full Time - Night Shift

Primary Purpose

Coordinates patient care, clerical and administrative needs by acting as the primary contact for the unit, while assisting and responding to information requests from doctors, nurses, patients, patient families and others to effectively service unit staff and customers by providing a permanent information resource within the unit. Unit Technicians perform phlebotomy skills, drawing labs and preparing these for testing.

MINIMUM SPECIFICATIONS

Education:

• Must have completed or hold one of the following:
• A formal nurse aide course
• A current certified nurse aide registry
• A medical assistant course
• A current medical assistant certificate
• A patient care technician course
• A current patient care technician certificate
• Must be a currently enrolled in an accredited school of professional nursing and must have documentation of basic fundamentals of nursing from the school
• Must be a graduate from an accredited school of nursing
• Parkland’s job specific training program

Experience:

• One year acute care hospital experience

Equivalent Education and/or Experience:

• Successful completion of Parkland’s job specific training program will be considered equivalent to 1 year of experience.

Certification/Registration/Licensure:

• Must have a current Heartsaver CPR course completion card within 90 days of hire and/or placement in job from one of the following: American Heart Association or American Red Cross

Skills or Special Abilities:

• Must be able to demonstrate competence in performing a variety of patient care and clerical duties.
• Must be able to communicate effectively with personnel of other departments, nurses, physicians, patients and families.
• Must be able to demonstrate flexible work habits and skill at setting priorities.
• Must demonstrate enthusiasm and eagerness to perform a variety of assigned duties.
• Must be able to demonstrate patient center/patient valued behaviors.
• Must have computer skills to include data entry, report generation, printing, scanning, faxing, etc.

Responsibilities

• The Unit Technician is expected to be able to perform in the capacity of a Patient Care Assistant and a Health Unit Coordinator.
• Performs phlebotomy tasks and conduct lab draws, as needed for the unit assigned.
• Coordinates patient care and clerical needs by acting as the primary contact for the unit, while assisting and responding to information requests from all employees, patient families and others to effectively service unit staff and customers by providing a permanent information resource within the unit.
• Performs specified patient care activities, under the direction of a Registered Nurse, including but not limited to providing basic hygiene care, injections, venipunctures, sterile and unsterile treatments, taking vital signs, and range of motion exercises. Lifts, ambulates, and feeds patients in accordance with the provision of patient centered/patient valued care, while providing optimal care services to patients and their families. Transports meal trays to patients to ensure sanitary and timely delivery when applicable.
• Serves as a patient advocate by responding to a patient’s needs and special requests. Maintains open communication, and honors patient’s rights and confidentiality, while providing optimal service to patients and their families.
• Prepares and processes hardcopy and computerized patient files by entering, sorting, and updating information to ensure accurate and complete records are maintained for each patient. Creates reports summarizing key patient information to provide unit decision makers with the tools needed to analyze operations.
• Monitors ongoing patient status and responds to a patient’s change in condition by notifying and assisting nurses and other health team members in handling patient care needs.
• Admits, transfers and discharges patients by creating charts, checking rooms, and receiving, logging, and storing patient valuables and nonvaluable to facilitate the administration of patient services.
• Maintains accurate, timely and appropriate notations and records activities performed to include but not limited to unit specific logs, vital signs, ambulation, feeding outcomes, quality control checks, chaperoning. etc. in accordance with standards established by the nursing unit.
• Maintains work environment and patient care areas according to infection prevention and environment of care guidelines, provides or requests translation services when applicable and performs quality control checks.
• Maintains knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, laws, and guidelines that impact the unit. Develops effective internal controls that promote adherence to applicable state/federal laws and the program requirements of accreditation agencies and federal, state, and private health plans. Seeks advice and guidance as necessary to ensure proper understanding.
• Orders, picks-up and delivers medical supplies, non-medical supplies, laboratory requisitions, patient specimens and other items while expediting other routine requests. Ensures work areas are stocked and rotated to ensures removal of supplies prior to expiration date.
• Performs all other duties as assigned by manager or manager’s designee.

Job Accountabilities

• Identifies ways to improve work processes and improve customer satisfaction. Makes recommendations to supervisor, implements, and monitors results as appropriate in support of the overall goals of the department and Parkland.
• Stays abreast of the latest developments, advancements, and trends in the field by attending seminars/workshops, reading professional journals, actively participating in professional organizations, and/or maintaining certification or licensure. Integrates knowledge gained into current work practices.
• Maintains knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, laws and guidelines that impact the area. Develops effective internal controls designed to promote adherence with applicable laws, accreditation agency requirements, and federal, state, and private health plans. Seeks advice and guidance as needed to ensure proper understanding.