Paramedic

I. Position Summary:

Assists professional nursing staff by performing specific patient care tasks, within the scope of practice for a Paramedic. Provides a variety of direct patient care, technical and clinical functions at the patient's bedside under the supervision of a Registered Nurse Demonstrates the ability and knowledge to assist in-patient care to meet the Emergency Department standards of practice.

II. Position Relationships:

A. Responsible to: Divisional Director of Emergency
Services, Director of Emergency Services
Nurse Director, Charge Nurse and RN's

B. Workers Supervised: None

C. Interrelationships: The Paramedic has frequent interactions with
patients, families, visitors, physicians, nursing staff and other hospital personnel.

III. Responsibilities and Authorities:

A. Performs other duties as assigned by the department's management staff.

B. As patient care and/or Hospital need dictates, both the assigned shift and work station may be changed by the department.

C. Participates in and promotes the "I CARE Advantage" service philosophy of Integrity, Customer Centered, Accountability, Respect and Excellence.

D. Performs essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodations.

E. Prepares room, cubicles and specialty care areas for patient use. Organizes stock room so items are readily available and easy to find.
1. Clean beds between patient use.
2. Restock patient rooms as needed (supplies and OSHA packs). Check stock room daily.
3. Check/set up oxygen or pulse oximeter for patient use.
4. Check/set up cardiac monitors for patient use.
5. Organizes clean utility room so stock is readily available and easy to find when needed.

F. Assists in and accompany patients in transfer and discharge procedures.
1. Transports patients via w/c or carrier to room for triage.
2. Assists EMS with patient transfers to and from carrier including patients on backboards.
3. Assists RN with monitored transport to CCU/ICU.
4. Assists with transport to and from personal vehicle.
5. Place patients on cardiac monitor, oxygen and pulse oximeter as needed (in appropriate areas).
6. Transfers monitored patients to Telemetry.
7. Transfer Medical/Surgical patients to the appropriate Unit.

G. Provides patient care.
1. Takes accurate vital signs on all ages.
2. Accurate weight on all children.
3. Assists with dressing/undressing patients.
4. Positions patient as needed for comfort/treatments.
5. Assists patients with bedpan, urinal or commode.
6. Performs CBG, and other point of care testing.

H. Performs routine treatment procedures.
1. Clean and dress wounds; using tube gauze, xeroform, telfa pads or other necessary bandages. Discontinue IV's or saline locks as instructed. Set up suture sets for physicians using sterile technique.
2. Place arm slings, Velcro splint (ankle, wrist, knee), shoulder immobilizer, clavicle splint, OCL & Orthoglass splints (after training and competency checks).
3. CBG's and point of care testing (after training and competency checks).
4. Phlebotomy (after training and competency checks completed).

5. 12 lead EKG's (after training and competency checks).
6. Starts IVs, external jungular IVs, Saline Locks abd UIs in accordance with Paramedic/Intermediate skills and completion of competency checkoff within scope of practice.

I. Assists nurse/physician with complicated treatment procedures.
1. Chest compressions during Code Blue.
2. Restraining patients, lavaging patients, assist with chest tube placement or intubation of patients.
3. Assist with large lacerations.

The above statements reflect the key responsibilities considered necessary to describe the principle functions of the job as identified, and shall not be considered as a detailed description.

IV. Performance Factors Used to Evaluate Employee:

A. Perform specific patient care functions to the following patient age categories (circle all that may apply):
1. Newborn/infant 4. Adult
2. Pediatric (0-16 y.o.) 5. Geriatric
3. Adolescent

In conjunction with the RN:

B. Reviews, collects and documents patient data; reports patient/family status change to RN.

C. Demonstrates ability to perform technical skills accurately and within a reasonable time frame.

D. Reinforces patient and family education.

E. Maintains a clean and safe patient environment.

F. Demonstrates good verbal and written communication skills; documents and reports clearly.

G. Respects patients' rights and confidential information.

H. Supports and practices in accordance with Hospital policy, procedures and protocols.

V. Qualifications:

A. Education:

Current Texas Paramedic certification or license

B. Training and Experience:

Two years experience in-field training. BLS Certification required within 90 days of hire and must maintain. Maintains ACLS & PALS Certification.

VI. Unusual Physical Demands and Working Conditions:
A. Ability to work under stress.
B. Ability to perform heavy lifting; sustained walking for extensive periods of time.
C. Ability to pull, push, lift, and manipulate equipment and patients.
D. Exposure to infectious diseases.
E. Varied working hours and shifts.