All you do is pass meds and chart....I do everything else........

ShayRN · Jan 9, 2006

I have gotten that attitude myself, many times. I very carefully explain to the aide/tech that I am documenting my assessment. That the pills I give a patient could very easily kill them as treat them. (We give adenocart, tikosyn and cardizem.) It isn't me just pulling out the pills and handing them to the patient. I then ask the tech if they could tell me when Norvasc should be held? If the heart rate is 60, should I con't an IV cardizem drip? If someone has respirations of 28, who should I call, or should I call anyone? What about those moist lung sounds I just heard, should I worry about them if the patient's foley has 70cc out that shift? When they look at me with a blank look on their face, I say EXACTLY! YOU don't need to know what to do, but I could never live with myself if I didn't. THAT is what I DO.

If that don't work, I point out that I have never seen them skip a break, but chances are good at least one nurse that shift has....

SFCardiacRN · Jan 9, 2006

Perhaps baths and linen change are "everything else" to some?

HyperRNRachel · Jan 9, 2006

I have gotten that attitude myself, many times. I very carefully explain to the aide/tech that I am documenting my assessment. That the pills I give a patient could very easily kill them as treat them. (We give adenocart, tikosyn and cardizem.) It isn't me just pulling out the pills and handing them to the patient. I then ask the tech if they could tell me when Norvasc should be held? If the heart rate is 60, should I con't an IV cardizem drip? If someone has respirations of 28, who should I call, or should I call anyone? What about those moist lung sounds I just heard, should I worry about them if the patient's foley has 70cc out that shift? When they look at me with a blank look on their face, I say EXACTLY! YOU don't need to know what to do, but I could never live with myself if I didn't. THAT is what I DO.
If that don't work, I point out that I have never seen them skip a break, but chances are good at least one nurse that shift has....

Well said! I may use that in the future if you do not mind.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jan 9, 2006

how can a tech who has been a CNA for 20 years be so clueless?????????

Because when a person has their head up their orifice, they typically don't have a clear field of vision lol.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Jan 9, 2006

I've had a lot of luck explaining why uop should be 30 cc an hour, and have had the tech come to me and let me know it hasn't reached that at the 2 or 4 hour mark.

I've had pulses reported right in the meiddle of their taking vital signs....."Mr. J has a pulse of 49, I wanted to tell you before you got out his meds."

I have worked with Nurses who literally did just that pass meds and chart....period "This pill is blue, it must be inderal."

I have also worked with some of the best unlicensed techs who should be teaching nursing instead of thinking about going to nursing school when they can afford it.

pugmum · Jan 9, 2006

how can a tech who has been a CNA for 20 years be so clueless?????????
Gee, I didn't realize my job was so easy. Why was I one hour late getting home tonight?
Not to slam techs. I'm having a bad day.

Oh gosh, sorry you had such a crummy day...hard to believe a CNA of 20 years could say something like that. I'll bet the CNA got home on time, though

General E. Speaking, RN, RN · Jan 9, 2006

hmmm, I've heard this before, too. Let me be clear- I'm not trying to tech bash either. I often think they don't understand the magnitude of responsibility. I think they see is us charting and passing meds...not the thousand wheels spinning in our heads~

"need to reck that BP, what has their BP been running?, should hold these BP meds"

"need to call the doc about this abnormal lab"

"pt may be d/c today- need to do wound care teaching during the dressing change which I should have pre-medicated for 15 min. ago"

"lungs sound wet, was that a wheeze? "wonder if Lasix is on the MAR?"

"pt having short runs of V-tac"

"heart rate sustained @ 130"

"chest pain"

"pain medicine not working, need something else"

I have worked with some awesome techs. They make all the difference in smooth, excellent patient care.

lpnadmin · Jan 9, 2006

I've even had CNA's put forth the notion that I should put off a medpass until after everyone is gotten up. Isn't that bogus? Often, these are the same CNA's who call in and ask me to cover for them while they take off.

lindarn · Jan 9, 2006

Perhaps someone can explain to me why "med techs' are passing meds in nursing homes and assissted living facilities. And how can licensed nurses accept singing off on the meds that they have given? JMHO.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 9, 2006

Thanks for listening.

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Jan 9, 2006

So sorry you had a bad day. I can totally relate. We have some awesome CNT's who I couldn't live without and then there are others. Can you kill a person giving them a bath or taking them to the potty? I suppose quite literally it could happen but lets face facts the nurses are the ones with their butts in the noose all day long. We literally deal with live and death and if we are not on top of everything we could easily accidently kill someone.

Once when doing charge I had a CNT filling in for the unit secretary. It was a h*** of a day. Well, the NM and I had such a laugh the next day. The CNT/unit secretary for a day had e-mailed the NM suggesting that the charge nurse answer all the call lights, phone calls and get up and get family members coffee and cokes and such because the charge nurse didn't seem very busy to her and as a unit secretary she was overwhelmed. We busted a gut and her orientation as unit secretary quickly came to an end.