Unit Secretary Doesn't Know Scope of Practice!

[Okami_CCRN]

So... It's about 10:45PM and I'm about to head out when i hear a very wound Unit Secretary (16yrs) talking about how fun it is to do blood sugars and encouraging our Unite Secretary who is also 16 to dop them as well.

I went up to her and asked her who did she did a blood sugar on and she turned pale white and said one patient but apparently she did 16 blood sugars because the RN's asked her to on another unit because they didnt have a CNA.

I had a total melt down and told her how dangerous that is and how she should never do that again her job is to answer the phones, call bells and enter orders/consults, never was it to perform patient care in any way shape or form.

I'm just amazed how some people do not really understand where they stand in the nursing field and how a simple mistake can cause some serious problems. What if a patient had a blood sugar of 40 and because she did not know what is an action range number did not report it to the RN?

Sorry for the rant guys it just really upsets me.

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

I was accused of going beyond my scope of practice because I would get the nurses IV tubing, or Normal Saline flushes. I was just being a Nurse's Assistant. I learned that in order to protect yourself you have to do everything within your scope. As a secretary she should not be doing dressing changes, however she could make sure that all the printers are stocked with paper, that the nurse's station is neat and organized, she could also get an admission packet ready for the nurse, to help save time.

I don't see anything wrong with what you were doing. Part of a PCT's job responsibilites is to act as a runner, get supplies, etc. I have countless times, gotten foleys, saline/heparin flushes for nurses etc, who are in the middle of something and don't want to come out of the room (especially an isolation room). As long as you aren't the one using the equipment, you aren't acting out of your scope.

[Okami_CCRN, BSN, RN]

my point is that because I was getting RN supplies I was accused of going beyond my scope so I do not bother getting their supplies anymore, instead I focus on stocking rooms with supplies such as gloves and gowns.