Are Techs And RN's equal in managements eyes?

[Indigomune]

I am new and this is my first post. I have been a surgical tech for 4yrs now, and work 3-11p at a Level One Trauma Center. Taking the evening shift, I became the sole staff employee on this shift, for 3yrs. (only traveling RN's were with me) Suffice to say, I was thrown in daily to some of the most difficult cases surgeons face. And I learned ALOT, about ALOT, and learned QUICK. I had no choice. If I didnt know exactly what each surgeon (albeit ortho, vascular, transplant, neuro, thoracic, plastics, general, etc.) wanted and needed....my experience with the surgeon (my ability to keep up, anticipate, and 'feel in sync' with him/her) wasnt going to be there, leading to frustration on their part and feeling inadequate on my part. So I took notes, read online about surgeries, studied procedure guides, asked alot of questions, and after 4yrs, I have developed a repoire of respect, unprecedented, with ALL of our surgeons (we have 25 OR suites). I am somewhat of an anamoly, as 99% of our techs work the day shift (or are forced to take off-shifts as part of their requirements) and most are uncomfortable outside of their speciality. Our hospital has lost 30 OR techs/nurses over the last 2yrs, to other hospitals, creating such a crisis that management called a meeting last year and urged ANYONE who got another offer, to come to them so they could counteroffer.

So now you have a background.

I have been reviewed yearly and have gotten small raises (.25 here, .40 there) I am at a point, where I feel I am WORTH MORE because of my versatility, my excellent repoire, and the fact that my managers have witnessed even the most demanding surgeons request me in their room.

I recently was 'approached' by another area hospital (whose employees work with us hourly and passed my name along), and was offered $2 more an hour. Now, I am COMFORTABLE working where I am and I dont WANT to leave. So I did what I remember management saying. I went to them.

I spoke with our HR nurse recruiter....who, told me that she was THE PERSON who made salary decisions, and was SO GLAD that I was coming to her before taking another offer and leaving.

By the end of the conversation, she told me that she had to get 'approval' from her supervisor (a mysterious person whos name HAS NEVER BEEN MENTIONED TO ANYONE, EVER)

BUT, she assured, she forsaw no problem (as the mystery person is quick to respond to these situations)

The next day, her story changed again.

Now, she confided in me, that the 'mystery person' had a biased opinion of my position, (which she said she disagreed with) IF I were an RN....it would be a different story. IF AN RN GETS A BETTER OFFER SOMEWHERE ELSE, THEY REACT IMMEDIATELY WITH AN EQUAL OR BETTER OFFER.

I was told that no 'TECH' had ever come to management with another offer. So, she compared my situation to a situation involving a Nurse Managers secretary, who asked for more money, and 'the mystery person' dragged it out for weeks, but eventually the secretary got her raise. Two days later, my OR director mentioned to me that he was getting alot of talk from 'suits and ties' about my plight, and that although what I was doing might help techs in the future, it probably wasnt going to help me. very strange.

A week later, not hearing anything (but assured I would), I called the HR recruiter, who told me my answer was no. But that they were 'looking into an across the board' change. I was now told that giving me a raise would throw the 'internal whatever' off. Something they couldnt do. (Did she forget she told me they DO THIS EVERYDAY for RN's?)

My plight here, is I was basically told flat out that because my position is not considered VALUABLE to administration, I can walk out the door.

"But we hope you will stay" was my goodbye.

Yes, I CAN walk and take another job, and might, but that isnt my POINT

IS THIS A TRUE CASE OF DISCRIMINATION? It certainly FEELS like it?

I know that to take it farther, will be my demise within the company.

I know how politics work. They'd crush me, deny they ever said anything discriminatory, and Id end up blacklisted from the community.

If anyone has experienced anything like this, or has any input, Id greatly appreciate it

[gonzo1, ASN, RN]

indigomune,

your story is just one of many pointing out how management lives in another universe and will never do anything without looking at how cheap they can get away with it.

I'm sorry that you were treated so poorly by your HR dept. It sounds like the other hospital respects the skills and work ethic you could bring to them, so maybe it is time to adventure out.

I hate to say that an RN is more "valuable" than a tech, or a janitor, or anyone else. All of us regardless of our title is valuable and the place can't run without each and every one of us.

[mesixfuture]

Indigomune, I feel your pain!! I'm an LPN, but I double as a scrub tech in the L&D OR in which RNs are not required to scrub, merely circulate. I also set up the sterile tables the midwives use for lady partsl deliveries. The other day, I was back in OR doing my second c/s of the day, and OR 2 was set up for a twin delivery. I come out to find that one of the patients is complete and pushing, but needs a lady partsl table. I barely got it set up in time, and yet there were THREE, not one, not two, but THREE RNS one of which was the patient's actual nurse sitting at the desk chatting. How's that for versatility?

[RN Zeke]

Tech's rarely get the same respect as RN's. Tech's rarely get the same pay as an RN, unless they become travel tech's. I did travel, got a great rate of pay. Still no respect, I went back to school and got my RN. It is all in the initials after your name. Tech's provide a wonderful service, I know from my own experience. To do away with any problems, I say everyone must be an RN. But that will never happen and these threads will continue as we all well know.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Tech's rarely get the same respect as RN's. Tech's rarely get the same pay as an RN, unless they become travel tech's. I did travel, got a great rate of pay. Still no respect, I went back to school and got my RN. It is all in the initials after your name. Tech's provide a wonderful service, I know from my own experience. To do away with any problems, I say everyone must be an RN. But that will never happen and these threads will continue as we all well know.

Unfortunately, if everyone were an RN in the OR, i don't believe it would get rid of any problems. It might do away with one kind of problems, but it won't all go away. There's always the standard my-degree/school/seniority/newness-is-better-than-yours-are arguments that could possibly stick around.

[ewattsjt]

getting back to the original poster; hopefully some day management will be able to see what you do. until then, find a facility that will respect you for what you know and can do. i had a good friend (rn traveler) tell me how techs get to top pay quickly. they must obviously do a good job first and work there a couple of years. then you leave that place for a couple of bucks per hour more and stay for a couple of years, and keep doing this until no one is willing to offer you more money. you will be at top pay for your experience (this process takes a few years) so once you are at the "top pay" it will now be time for you to look for a place to retire from. maybe you should leave your current facility for the $1 per hr more. i guarantee you one thing for sure, (not flaming just being honest), most upper management is made of rns who worked their way up and rns don’t like techs and do not think we are valuable at all (goes back to the taking my job thing)... so get use to being treated that way or go back to school to become an rn. it’s really that simple.

btw dutchgirl rn, a lot of techs like me do have associate degrees. it’s interesting that you didn’t know that. a lot of us took the same pharmacology, a&p i & ii, microbiology, psychology, etc…so the real difference in degree is the core classes. we spend 3 semesters in the or while nursing spends 4 semesters on the floor. it is just a statement.

mike is correct in the fact that the difference is one is a certification (voluntary) and the other a state mandated license.

indigomune, if you want to be treated with respect or make more money become an rn. otherwise you are “just a tech”. btw i am a cst working on my rn for $$$ reasons only. i am very good at being a cst and an advocate for my patients but i do realize that the only way to make more or advance is to become an rn. even smaller recognitions only go to nurses.

[RN Zeke]

Go for that degree and never look back. We that have walked that walk and talked that talk can educate others with the real job structures. Not to mention the respect we can teach others for the jobs that do. It is good to be a small setp and work my way up. It teaches one not to take others for granted and appreciate their jobs!!

[peddler]

To comment on the original question; "

Are Techs And RN's equal in managements eyes? "

The answer is a simple "No"

It doesn't demean anyone's ability, dedication, or worthiness...but simply stated, the RN is required by law. State Nurse Practice Acts are laws. Hospitals must follow them or close up shop. OR Techs, CNAs, Cath Lab Techs, et al are "Unlicensed Assitive Personnel". Many of those specialties attain multiple Certifications, but certs don't add up to Licensure.

As for all other mentioned issues: I say follow money. People with strong work ethics are going to work hard and care about the job no matter where they do it. Go somewhere that is going to pay you the most for your skills. Poor staffing, hard work, rush rush, too many pt's so little time - it's the same in every hospital on the planet and only getting worse. Follow money.

[tryx]

If I had refused to go on duty. I would have been fired.

Surely you cannot be fired for not doing something that is outside your job description. Legally, you are not allowed to do it anyway. You can sue them if they fire you. If you refused to do it, management won't be stupid enough to fire you. They would have to consult their lawyers first and of course their lawyers would advise them that firing you for refusing to do something that is illegal would be a big and costly mistake.

I don't believe that there is no choice. There is ALWAYS a choice. Its up to you to make the right one.

[joeshmoe59595959]

techs dont get treated as good as nurses. travel techs can sometimes make more than new staff nurses. i was ready to give up on scrubbing, because i wasnt getting the pay for the work i was doing.then i became a traveler, got an $11 an hour pay increase and i was happy. it sounds like youre ready to travel. i didnt go to nursing school, because i like being a tech.

[RN Zeke]

techs dont get treated as good as nurses. travel techs can sometimes make more than new staff nurses. i was ready to give up on scrubbing, because i wasnt getting the pay for the work i was doing.then i became a traveler, got an $11 an hour pay increase and i was happy. it sounds like youre ready to travel. i didnt go to nursing school, because i like being a tech.

I traveled as a tech also. I learned so much. Let anyone hold those retractors, it keeps me from having carparal tunnel. Let anyone prep, drape, throw off and secure connctions off the field. It is that much less time I waste doing my job. It is so political. Some of these people need to get a life.

[joeshmoe59595959]

yeah i'm just there to get paid haha.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

You can sue them if they fire you. If you refused to do it, management won't be stupid enough to fire you. They would have to consult their lawyers first and of course their lawyers would advise them that firing you for refusing to do something that is illegal would be a big and costly mistake.

I see that you are in New Zealand. Here in the U.S., filing a lawsuit against a former employer frequently results in professional suicide. Once you sue, you may be blackballed from your local medical community and, therefore, encounter difficulty obtaining another job. If a place fires you in the States, they will typically conjure up reasons such as 'insubordination' or 'tardiness,' that will mask the true reasons for the termination of employment.