Techs vs. Nurses

[themostawesometech]

I really didn't know that there was a tension between techs and nurses. I work in a downtown busy ER and the relationships between the two are friendly not to mention encouraging about medical knowledge. We are expected to know stuff, and pick up on it, (as I sit here in the very scary triage desk... I better know my stuff!) If there is something we missed or didn't know about, it's thought upon as a learning opportunity. I don't know if they just train us differently here in Texas but it's definetly a different scenario than what I've read here. Insight?

ps. If I have one more patient come up to me asking what the wait time is, I'm gonna tell the truth they don't wanna hear...

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

You're a tech that's triaging patients? Yeah, that is scary.

[themostawesometech]

Not triaging, but a triage clerk. Sorry should have been more specific.

[Tait, MSN, RN]

Every floor has its different personalities across all disciplines. Personalities clash/mesh/disintigrate on a daily/hourly basis. There is no perfect floor, perfect ER (no matter how it may seem this evening), perfect hospital.

Our perceptions are constantly influenced by our interactions, hormones, pheremones, and stress. For you the night and unit might be a semblance of peace and harmony, while inside another head it might be stress/strife and the utter dictionary description of a lousy, unfriendly night.

Celebrate your work environment, continue to strive to do your best and never forget the chaos which is existence and the passion which is humanity.

Tait

For example: Tonight our floor is running smoothly, patient care is covered in a timely and teamwork oriented way and my new grad is humming along happily at the computer charting and looking at histories. The techs are quietly talking about homelife and the charge nurse is plugging away at the day assignment.

Meanwhile, inside I am head I am storming because my tech dismissed the idea that we should clean up the unit before a hospital video is made today. Then launched into a discussion about the pointless pictures they take of nurses "acting" like they are doing important things. Tonight she also quietly refused to help me lift a patient that was coming to the floor because of some non-descript back pain.

Now my night was tainted by a code I helped out with on a sister unit where I watched the patient die.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Here in Florida, it's a bit outside the scope of CNA's and Techs here to expect them to have medical knowledge and to "pick up on" things. It's the Nurses job to do assessments and triage and treat.

Experience however is a great teacher and techs are spot on when knowing that something isn't right and when to get a nurse. When a tech comes to me and asks me to look at something, I take them seriously and immediately assess the situation.

Obviously, the techs know when vital signs are out of whack and when a patient is in distress.

You sound like you have a great team that treats each other with respect. Keep up the good work!

[themostawesometech]

Yeah I'd say we have a really great team! The techs know their responsibilities and the nurses expect them to so it's a nice comraderie. If we couldn't depend on eachother and trust our work, I think the place would turn into a mad house REAL quick.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

If we can respect each other as a team, no matter what the titles, it is a safer environment for both, the patients as well as the staff. You are very fortunate!