Hi

I'm a medical device trainer who works for the medical physics department. I have a technical background NOT a nursing one. Is there anyone out there with a job decription for this role that achieved more than a band 5. I am currently awaiting review and I need some pretty good ammunition as this Health Board seems hell bent on forcing us to go to surrounding areas to get a decent banding. Stupid as I am...I like my job and don't want to leave!

Thanks

Helen

Hello Helen,
The Medical Device training team here is part of Clinical Engineering which is part of Medical Physics.
We have not come from a nursing background (OK in my past I was a nurse but the post is not derived from nursing, and I have worked in Clinical Engineering for over 18years)
We fought a long battle but have two band 7 posts and an 8a - although that post has other duties outside training.
It was considered that the trainer post was equivalent to a team leader, i.e. someone with a lot of experience who had moved on from a senior technician.
We had a look around other trainers in the Trust - most of which are nursing based - and they were mainly on band 7.

Prior to AfC the posts were MTO not nursing grades.

PM or email me if you want to know more.
Robert

And for completeness of reply: we have appointed two new applicants to a lower grade as they did not have sufficient experience/knowledge to be appointed at band7. But that does not mean the post is not banded as such.

Hi Helen,

A Medical Device Trainer (just like Robert was saying)is someone who has many years of experience in the Biomedical Instrumentation and has been exposed to the day to day problems within the hospital. He is someone of a senior position (ours would be a post of Biomedical Engineer)who can impart the theoretical knowledge and hands on experience to the juniors.

Regards

I think the only ones i've seen on higher grades have management responsibility for something else like medical equipment library or risk management.

I think there is a great deal of variation not only in job content but also in the qualifications and experience required.

A degree in physics is essential so that should make it automatically a band 6.

I have heard of band 6/7/8a but I haven't heard of anyone else who got as low as a 5. I'm surprised to hear that. What kind of training do they do?

What makes you say that, Helen?

I would have thought that three prime qualities are actually required in this role:-

1) An adequate technical knowledge of the kit in question.
2) A good understanding of its clinical application.
3) The ability to impart this knowledge when training users.

PS: welcome to the forum.

Wiseman thinks alike! Cheers

Hi,
I am a medical device trainer, i am a nurse and i have absolutely no medical engineering experience nor qualification at all. I am a band 6 sister in critical care.
My job description is varied (3 pages long in print)
My role is diverse and incorporates much more than just training as my title suggests.
Although i didnt know this when i took on the role to be honest.
What is it specifically about the role that you want to know?

It seems that every one has a different opinion of what the job entails and of the requirements and quals needed for the role!
Its good to hear from other device trainers as there are none in the North west where i work, so i have no one to talk to about the job.
I have a million questions myself!

Dear Quinny,

I don't have any questions for you. That's our opinion of what it takes to be a Medical Device Trainer. Perhaps we are looking more from the perspective of a biomed engineer whose requirements as mentioned by Geoff, should match that of the 3 prime criteria. But looking from the nursing perspective, training of nurses to handle the operation (clinical application)of the kit and a little on the basis maintenance and care, fits the bill as it is strictly application and superficial maintenance. In our setting, they are called Nurse Educator and they only trained nurses on the application and the operation of the kit (basic care and maintenance are included). I have also come across a nurse whose main responsibility is to set up the ventilator for use in the ITU, much like our respiratory technician (clinical role only)whose job is to ensure there will be enough ventilators around in the ITU, test the function of the ventilator before each use.

I hope you find your job challenging but 3 page-length JD may seem too lengthy.

Regards

Roger, Thanks for the reply.
On the ICU where i work we always had "technicians" who were theatre practitioners to set up vents, pre use test them, humidifiers, heamofiltration, bronchs etc. They were our back bone.
Then they were taken off us.
So now all of the staff nurses are trained to set up every piece of equipment for themselves. They are fully trained in troubleshooting this equipment as well, we are now self sufficient.

The training side of my my job is to train new starters on this, to introduce and train all staff on the use of new equipment, refresher training on the kit for any one who wants it. My asset register is HUGE and i have aprox 75 nurses in my dept, so this is a major component of my job.
To add as well that my job would be perfect if all i had to do was set up ventilators for people!
My 3 page jd is lengthy, this is because there is much more to it than what you apear to think from your above post. From what you say, my job seems to encompass what a biomed engineer,nurse educator AND a respiratory technician all do. This makes me question my own banding, a band 6 for doing 3 peoples job....my employer has got a bargain with me havent they?!
Its not just the training, i am heavily involved in procurement as well as taking on a management role, taking charge of the ICU when needed or simply working in the numbers when they are short of staff (which is frequent).
Do you see my problem? I have no yard stick with which to compare my jd as there are no other medical device trainers in the northwest of England.
This is why i am so interested in your opinions on what constitutes the role.
I just want to put across that you dont have to be a biomed in order to do this job, but it all depends on who is your target audience. I train nurses, are you looking at the training of engineers only? (i think that i am thinking "nursing" too much, this is a biomed website so possibly hadnt thought of it from your point of veiw...sorry)
Again, thanks for your reply, its great to chew the fat about this at long last.