Three sets of vitals in a 12-hour shift?

Nursing Students Technicians

Published

Hello everyone. I have a question. I am a pct at a major hospital. There was just a policy change and now instead of the pct's taking two sets of vitals they are adding a third set right before the shift change which is the busiest time for the pct's. Honestly, all of my co-workers are wondering how we are going to do this with are already busy crazy schedule. Each tech has as many as 14 patients and sometimes it can be up to 19 if the census is low at the hospital. This means that we have to do vitals on all those patients times three. The time that we are supposed to clock out is 7:15 but we aren't supposed to start vitals until 6:30. Personally, it takes me over an hour to do twelve vitals as I help my patients to the bathroom if needed, pick up the room, get fresh water, empty trash, etc while I am in their room as not to disturb them later. I don't know how I am going to accomplish this extra set of vitals without being at work until 8:00 Am. Also, call lights are going off at that time in the morning so what should I do? Ignore the other patients? This is really upsetting to me as I believe I am a really good pct and a hard worker but it seems like too much is being loaded onto the techs. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks for allowing me to vent.

That's normal. Get in and get out during vitals when you have lots of patients. One thing I do is if a pt has to use the restroom, get their vitals then. No reason you have to go in numerical order. Go around an hour before vitals to toilet, fill water, etc.

0 Votes

I also love when the nurses call you... from the patients room... to tell you the patient has to use the rr. That whole nurses will help more comment was a great laugh lol.

0 Votes

We do all that above at the hospital I work at and insert and take out caths. I would have to say yes it gets busy but like someone said above you are only one person.

0 Votes

You were ALL very helpful to me. I have been doing the extra set of vitals since I posted this post and basically the nurses have all been very compassionate and helpful, noticing that my load is heavy. Also, my supervisor has made sure to have the RN's tech on nights that the census is low so now the nurses have more of an understanding what my job is all about. I hopefully have enough energy to add classes to my busy work schedule because I would really like to get my nursing degree. This was the reason why I took this job in the first place. I have been dragging my feet for too long. I need to get going and get into class. God Bless all you wonderful people... May your compassion and beautiful smile make someone's day...every day!

0 Votes
Specializes in Cath Lab.

Whee I work the unit is 30 beds and we half the patients ,so about 16 patients per PCA.

I come in at 6:45a, start vitals at 7 (blood sugar patients first), and after that's done then I go back and change and clean and help order breakfast.

Start next vitals and sugars at 11 (sugar patients first) and start asking them for baths and showers, help order lunch trays

Next vitals are 4 and I do blood sugar patients last this time, and then help order dinner and attend to anything left to do and thats pretty much it.

It was alot at first and overwhelming, but after doing it a few times youll get the hang of it and develop a routine.

0 Votes
Specializes in Transitional Nursing.

The way it usually works, is the shift leaving does the vitals for the shift coming on. So, If vitals are q4h, the 0700 vitals would be done by night shift and the 1900 vitals by day shift. Then you would only have to do 2300, 0300, and 0700. Day shift would do 1100, 1500, and 1900. That's 3 sets each, and manageable.

0 Votes

Have to say we had some of the greatest PCAs where I worked!!! Was a Mental Health Worker, but always enjoyed working with them and helping them out when I could. We were a 30 patient unit...at times did reach the max, but normally never fell below 25...then there was a lot of other odd patient counts, but that is a whole different story. Anyways we only had once PCA to our floor normally in a shift the took vitals at least twice sometimes four times on a patient, assisted us with safety checks for us, and did lab work.

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment