no monitor tech?

[LanaBanana]

I just started as a CNA on an Intermediate Cardiac Care unit. It is a telemetry unit but they said they recently lost the monitor tech. So my question is, if nobody is watching the monitors, then what is the purpose? There have got to be some abnormalities going on that nobody is catching. Maybe I just don't understand how it works. Can somebody explain it to me?

[mamason]

Dawngloves and mamason illustrate some things that I said earlier. It can be inherently dangerous NOT to have a tech. And with patient ratios increasing for nurses everywhere, are you willing to put your license on the line? That's what's happening when something is missed, and someone's head is going to roll. I can guarantee you it won't be an administrator either. They can weasle their way out of just about anything.

vamedic4

Monitor tech, medic, HUC,

all around do it all guy

Yes..Yes...Yes.... This is why, when I re-enter the nursing profession, I will be cautious when applying for cardiac position. I was a new graduate when I took the previous job and didn't realize how dangerous the situation was. I could tell you horror stories about Rn's ignoring alarms and such. Mainly involved pt deaths. If they don't have a monitor tech, then, I won't be working on that particular cardiac unit. TOO....STRESSFUL WITH HIGH PT LOAD.

[mamason]

Last week I saw the importance of needing a monitor tech, and when it makes sense to not have one.

I interviewed at 2 tele units. 1 was very busy and had 'lots of sick pts'--the nurse manager claimed they just got monitor techs and it has taken some of the stress off.

Other hospital did not have "really sick" patients like the other hospital claimed, was smaller, and seemed quiter. They used the pager system. To me, both make sense.

I guess it is good to take the load of the nurses if the load is too much. Why not?? Nurses will still assess the strips, just not have to respond to all the beeping and booping.

We have nurse assistants to help us with our duties of ADLs and etc. It makes sense to have monitor techs if it is needed on the unit.

I feel that the pager system is useful if it is applied to the right type of floor. It was not working well in the unit that I had worked on. The pt's were too unstabile. The workload was extremely heavy. It was hard for the seasoned RN to keep up let alone a new grad. It was an overwhelming responsiblity that you had to contend with at all times. This does not mean that I'm against the pager system at all. Nor, do I think that monitor techs are fool proof either. It just depends on how comfortable you feel in working in that particular situation. Research the unit and decide if that's what you can handle. Ask to shadow an RN on a shift that you're interested in applying for. These are things that I did not do, but, should have done. Then you could get a feel for how things might go for you once you start working on that floor.

[Indy, LPN, LVN]

I like having monitor techs to a degree. What I don't like is having monitor techs but no computer screen at one of our nurse stations. Yah, they can call me if something goes wrong but it's not always possible to answer the phone! So Vamedic, you're asking if we're willing to put our license on the line not having a tech? I've told my manager the nurse is responsible for the patient whether or not an unlicensed tech picks up the phone to call for a problem so having a monitor at the desk is a necessity.

I pay good attention to the screens on the units where I have them, and if I have time I'll talk to the monitor techs to explain why I am or am not worried about something. They appreciate the consideration; I may get less phone calls or more appropriate phone calls. But nothing replaces a nurse who's good at reading rythyms, not even a cardiologist, because they are on the unit maybe an hour a day. One other thing, besides a desk monitor screen, that I have on my wish list: a portable monitor like the one on the code cart, that does nothing but monitor, and is fairly small. I want it for when I'm pushing cardizem boluses, or spending time titrating dopamine, etc. That'd be sweet!

[NurseyPoo, RN]

We do not have monitor techs at my location and the RN is responsible for monitoring the patient. On the telemetry floor there was a huge bank of monitors and they were VERY NOISY. So, if an alarm sounded everyone on the floor knew it. We carried phones and would be alerted to a problem via phone. If I was busy and my phone went off after hearing an alarm sounding I would either yell down the hall or stop what I was doing if possible to make sure that I was not needed. I think a monitor tech is a great idea, but I do not think the facility I work in has ever had them.

In the ICU that I work in there are 4 monitor banks. We also have a screen in each corner of the unit with a message that lights up with the room number and the problem while the alarms are sounding. If there is a code the system alerts the nursing supervisor and he/she will be there in minutes. Sometimes after shift I can still here the alarms in my head when I try to fall asleep...

[augigi, CNS]

We don't have monitor techs at all in Australia. We do have the paging system. We also have nurse/patient ratios mandated by law, so I haven't ever found I couldn't observe the montitors of my assigned patients.

[vamedic4, EMT-P]

I like having monitor techs to a degree. What I don't like is having monitor techs but no computer screen at one of our nurse stations. Yah, they can call me if something goes wrong but it's not always possible to answer the phone! So Vamedic, you're asking if we're willing to put our license on the line not having a tech? I've told my manager the nurse is responsible for the patient whether or not an unlicensed tech picks up the phone to call for a problem so having a monitor at the desk is a necessity.

_____---___----___----___----___----____----

The above makes perfect sense, Indy. We're lucky here as we have both- central monitoring (unobtrusive and hidden down a hallway), as well as monitors at both ends of the unit where nurses can keep an eye on their patients as well. Overhead paging and "priority messaging" are a must, however...no matter where you are.

I pay good attention to the screens on the units where I have them, and if I have time I'll talk to the monitor techs to explain why I am or am not worried about something. They appreciate the consideration; I may get less phone calls or more appropriate phone calls. But nothing replaces a nurse who's good at reading rythyms, not even a cardiologist, because they are on the unit maybe an hour a day. One other thing, besides a desk monitor screen, that I have on my wish list: a portable monitor like the one on the code cart, that does nothing but monitor, and is fairly small. I want it for when I'm pushing cardizem boluses, or spending time titrating dopamine, etc. That'd be sweet!

--Right!!

Here working with kids we have a good idea what to expect from certain CHDs and their corrective surgeries so it's not so big an issue. It's those general peds kids we have to worry about!!!

vamedic4

[Indy, LPN, LVN]

Well, I have found, in terms of omigosh moments, it's never the patient you expect who will go into vtach, fib, arrest on ya. Beware the quiet ones!