For those of you who do Med-Surg-- if your agency sent you to a tele/IMC or Short-Stay unit where everyone is on a cardiac monitor, would you demand to be paid the Tele/IMC rate for that unit vs. a basis med-surg rate?
Heres whats happening to me-- I am a med-surg/L+D nurse, with MINIMAL tele experience (I DO NOT feel competent at this point in time caring for someone on tele nor do I have ACLS)....Im doing prn at one particular hospital and when they have a need help in the IMC/Tele or SSU, staffing will ask if I want to go but that the charge RN hold my tele-beeper and watch the monitor for me, so Im basically only doing the 'med-surg' care for the patient. So its like I get cancelled or go work on one of these units....
I have done this twice but Im STILL watching my own monitor although the charge RN is documenting on my strip, I still feel its my patient, my liscense and I am responsible for whats going and I have to wonder how much the charge RN is truely paying attention!! These patients are also much more acute- on heparin/amiodarine drips, blood transfusions, yesterday I got someone fresh out of the ICU with a trach/peg/etc....
I think my agency should be paying me the rate for these units because I feel im doing much more than just basic med-surg.... OPINIONS????
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