Emergency Department Technician, Paramedic Qualified

Job Description

JOB TITLE: Emergency Department Technician, Paramedic Qualified

DEPARTMENT: Emergency Department / Hospital Nursing

REPORTS TO: Emergency Department Director or designee; receives patient care assignments from the assigned RN and orders from authorized providers.

JOB SUMMARY

Provides direct patient care and operational support in the critical access hospital emergency department as a member of the care team. The position is intended for an individual holding current Texas paramedic credentials. The employee performs assigned technician duties and additional approved skills only after MCHD orientation, documented competency, and authorization under applicable law, medical staff orders, and hospital policy. The RN retains responsibility for nursing assessment, planning, evaluation, and nursing supervision; the treating provider directs medical diagnosis and treatment.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

Education – High school diploma or equivalent; completion of an accredited paramedic education program.

License, registry, or certification – Current Texas paramedic license or certification in good standing; current BLS and ACLS. PALS and other emergency care credentials as required by MCHD.

Experience – One year of paramedic or emergency care experience preferred; hospital ED experience preferred.

Skills and abilities – Ability to read, write, speak, and understand conversational English (verbal and written) sufficiently to communicate effectively with patients, families, and the care team, document accurately in the electronic health record, and follow written protocols and orders. Clear verbal and written communication, safe patient handling, ECG and emergency equipment familiarity, electronic health record use, and effective teamwork during high-acuity events.

Vision and hearing – Sufficient vision (near, far, color, and peripheral; corrective lenses permitted) to read monitors, labels, documentation, and patient conditions, and sufficient hearing (normal conversational levels and equipment alarms; hearing aids permitted) to receive verbal instructions, communicate with the team, and respond to auditory cues.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Receives assignments from the RN, communicates observations promptly, and escalates urgent changes in condition immediately to the RN and treating provider.

Obtains and records vital signs, pain scores, blood glucose readings, weights, intake and output, and other assigned observations; recognizes abnormal findings and reports them without delay.

Assists with rooming, patient positioning, safe transfers, transport, hygiene, comfort measures, fall precautions, and care appropriate to neonatal, pediatric, adult, and geriatric patients.

Obtains 12-lead ECGs, applies monitoring equipment, assists with oxygen delivery and airway equipment, and supports resuscitation and trauma care as assigned within approved competency.

Collects and labels specimens and performs point-of-care testing only when trained and authorized under laboratory policy and quality control requirements.

Prepares rooms, supplies, and equipment for procedures; assists the RN and provider with wound care, splinting, immobilization, and other procedures within assigned competency.

For enhanced paramedic skills, performs only procedures specifically listed in a current MCHD role-specific skills matrix, supported by documented training and competency, a valid order or approved protocol when required, and the applicable supervision arrangement. Examples that may be considered for approval include IV access, phlebotomy, ECG acquisition, and airway or resuscitation assistance; listing an example here does not authorize performance.

Documents care and observations accurately and promptly in the designated record; records the responsible ordering provider and communicates completed interventions to the RN.

Checks, cleans, restocks, and maintains ED rooms, crash carts, and equipment; reports malfunctioning equipment and supply shortages.

Participates in handoff, emergency drills, education, quality improvement, and annual competency validation.

ROLE LIMITS AND SUPERVISION

This job title does not confer independent hospital practice authority or an RN, LVN, or provider license. The technician does not independently perform nursing assessments, create or revise nursing care plans, triage or assign acuity, make disposition decisions, prescribe, or give unsupervised patient education or discharge instructions. Medication administration, IV medication, invasive procedures, and advanced airway interventions require separate written MCHD authorization and an approved order or protocol, competency, and supervision; they are not authorized by this description alone. The RN or provider may decline or stop an assignment based on patient condition, competency, or staffing. The employee must decline and escalate any task outside the approved role.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

The following physical and mental demands are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of the position. Percentages are approximate averages over a typical shift and may vary by patient volume, acuity, and shift length; multiple activities often occur concurrently. Essential functions may be performed with reasonable accommodation.

Physical requirements (approximate percentage of work time):

Standing: 40–50% (static and dynamic standing while assisting with patient care, monitoring, procedures, and room preparation).

Walking: 25–35% (frequent movement between rooms, stations, supply areas, and during patient transport within the department).

Sitting: 15–25% (primarily for electronic documentation, charting, and brief breaks).

Lifting/Carrying:

Up to 25 pounds: frequent (approximately 30–45%).

Up to 50 pounds: occasional to frequent (approximately 15–30%; team lifting and mechanical aids required for heavier loads or uncooperative patients).

Occasional assistance with patients who may suddenly lose strength or require repositioning (team lift/equipment use expected).

Pushing/Pulling: Frequent (approximately 25–40%), including stretchers, wheelchairs, beds, and equipment (force requirements vary; typical adult patient transport requires coordinated team effort).

Bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and squatting: Frequent (approximately 25–40%), for patient positioning, floor-level care, equipment retrieval, and hygiene assistance.

Reaching (forward, overhead, and in all directions): Frequent (approximately 25–35%).

Grasping, handling, and fine motor skills: Frequent to constant (approximately 50–70%), for equipment operation, specimen handling, monitoring setup, ECG acquisition, and procedural assistance.

Climbing: Occasional (stairs or step stools as needed; typically low frequency).

Balance and coordination: Frequent use of lower extremities for balance during patient handling and emergency responses.

Must be able to transport patients (via wheelchair, stretcher, or bed) with assistance as indicated, including those weighing substantially more than 50 pounds.

Mental and sensory requirements:

Ability to read, write, speak, and understand conversational English sufficiently for accurate documentation, protocol adherence, and effective team communication.

Sufficient vision (near, far, color, and peripheral; corrective devices permitted) and hearing (normal conversational levels and equipment alarms; hearing aids permitted) to safely perform duties.

Ability to follow written and verbal instructions promptly and accurately.

Effective response during high-acuity events, resuscitations, trauma care, and rapidly changing conditions.

Sustained attention, multitasking, prioritization, and emotional resilience in a fast-paced environment that includes exposure to critical illness, trauma, and distressed individuals.

OTHER SIGNIFICANT REQUIREMENTS

Uses standard and transmission-based precautions, aseptic technique, and required personal protective equipment.

Maintains patient privacy and confidentiality under HIPAA and MCHD policy.

Follows MCHD policies, safety practices, incident reporting, and the current approved ED skills matrix.

Performs other duties assigned by department management within the authorized role.

This is a complete, ready-to-use revision of the original job description with the requested physical-percentage breakdown, conversational English requirement, and explicit vision/hearing standards integrated throughout. You can copy it directly into your system or further customize percentages or wording to match any internal job-analysis data.