I'm a new tech, I wanna help you

Please find me in the morning to give me vitals and blood sugar on the patients. We can talk about each patient at that time too.

Please tell me immediately about low blood sugars (<60), patients that don't look right to you, or other abnormal vitals.

Please tell me if the output on a foley is low (<30ml/hr)

Please tell me if a patient is not eating.

Please tell me if the patient's bottom appears to be in the early stages of a bed sore (red, or open)

Please round on the patients when you have time. I wish I could round on the patients more but I am overwhelmed with care coordination. Especially in med surg, we count on our techs to make sure the patients are OK. Rounding helps head off a LOT of problems.

Please tell me your concerns or suggestions (i.e. "the patient really coughed a lot when I fed her, I am worried about her aspirating", or, "the patient was very unsteady when walking, can we put on a bed alarm?") The techs see a lot that I may not, and I count on them greatly!

If you have a pulse ox attached to the vitals machine, please use it on the patients. If not, please find a pulse ox and get a reading on each patient once per shift. Please inform me if any readings are below 90% for anyone. My personal request, which may differ with other nurses, is to know if anyone under age 40 is below 93%.

Please tell me if you think I'm doing something wrong/missed something! Safety is the number one thing and should be above anyone's pride here. For example, if there is a patient who is not considered on isolation, who needs a stool for c-diff sample, ask if they should be on isolation. Another example is if you are about to discharge someone who still has an IV in or telemetry hooked up. It is likely the nurse forgot in this case.

If a patient doesn't look good, go ahead and get a set of vital signs, and let me know of your concerns. You can never get too many vital signs. If there is a code or rapid response, go ahead and get a set of vitals and also get a blood sugar too, even if the person isn't a diabetic.

Please use a large cuff on the large patients for a more accurate blood pressure. This really does make a difference.

I work with amazing techs - please know how appreciated you are. I've had techs save my behind before, and make excellent suggestions. You are great advocates for the patient, and a vital part of the team.