Tag teaming with a tech in acutes

Specialties Urology

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Specializes in Dialysis. OR, cardiac tell, homecare case managem.

Hi I am looking for opinions on tag teaming as an acute RN with a tech in the ICU. I work for one of the big 2 and was asked to do a tandem case with a tech, I said no because the rooms were on opposite ends of the icu. I was unable to see both patients at the same time and both were ICU and were critical. I am so glad I refused, one of the patients ended up coding and passing away that same day and the other one had issues with hypotension and SVT. Is it common practice in acutes to do this? I am curious. Its my liscense and I knew in my gut it was not a good scenario. Is this common practice in acutes? Looking for any opinions, Thanks

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Oh no way. Not if you can not see the patient and reach them pronto.

And how many times are dialysis patients in the ICU actually in adjacent rooms? Not often. And that would be the only way I would accept such a scenario. To add, the patients would have to be relatively "stable" as far as ICU patients go. Also, who asked you to do this and is it in accordance with company policy?

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Specializes in Dialysis.

It is not common and you were wise to refuse. When I have been asked it was with the caveat if I didn't then I would have to stay and do them one at a time which meant staying to midnight. I always think about what I would want to testify in court.

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Specializes in Dialysis. OR, cardiac tell, homecare case managem.

It was my charge nurse asking this of me. This happens quite often, our "travelers" are allowed to refuse but they give "staff" a hard time. I agree Chisca I need to envision the court room, that makes the no even easier. The patients I speak of were both unstable. Thanks Chisca and Guttercat!

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Specializes in Dialysis.

If you stop and think about it there is no reason for this behaviour. My hospital charges $2,300 for a bedside. The chemicals and tubing are less than $100, the machine is paid for and my labor cost you $300. Quit being so damn greedy!

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This came up at one of my facilities a couple years back. The administrators (all PCT's by the way-yes PCT's supervising RN's in the acute setting) thought it was a good idea to give the "stable ICU" patients to the PCT's as long "as there was a RN on the same unit". As the clinical manager I fought this to the bitter end, however one day when I was not there, they did it anyway. Luckily I have worked at this hospital as staff for 10 years before moving to this for profit, publicly traded, profit driven company (no I am not bitter at all)..... I made a few quick phone calls from home when I found out what they had done and within 20 mins, the DON, Unit Manager, and Union President were all in the ICU demanding the pt either be taken off or a RN come in the room immidietaly. It took several meetings and threats of loosing a 400 tx/month contract for my company to admit defeat and back off from this crazy, unsafe, profit driven practice!!!

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OP, you did the right thing- good for you.

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I used to work for one of the big two. They regularly did this. It's ridiculous. More than once the pct patient has coded and died while the rn is on the other side of the icu and unable to leave her patient. It's ridiculous. Glad I am out.

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Specializes in Dialysis.

One of the reasons cited for Japanese dialysis patients having half the mortality rate of American renal patients is no techs. Every single treatment in Japan is administered by a registered nurse. You really do need a nurse to save your life.

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One of the reasons cited for Japanese dialysis patients having half the mortality rate of American renal patients is no techs. Every single treatment in Japan is administered by a registered nurse. You really do need a nurse to save your life.

I recognize those words- Laura Gasparis-Vonfrolio. :)

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