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A thread about rural nursing got me thinking......are you doing this at your work?
Giving nebs
Drawing own labs
Starting your own iv's
Running own blood gasses
Cleaning own rooms
Walking pt to radiology, CT etc
Testing urine
Mixing meds
All caths, ng insertions, trach suctioning
???
giving nebs....sometimes, but rt usually
drawing own labs...yes most with iv start and if techs are busy or mia
starting your own iv's....always, and draw labs at this time.
running own blood gasses...no rt
cleaning own rooms...most of the time
walking pt to radiology, ct etc...critical only
testing urine....no
mixing meds...yes, no pharmacy after 2100
all caths, ng insertions, trach suctioning...not many trachs, but yes, and ekg's if rt is tied up.
all of our icu admits rn must transport
Giving nebs: yes unless it's a vented pt
Drawing own labs: only when starting an IV
Starting your own iv's: yes
Running own blood gasses: no, RT does
Cleaning own rooms: yes we all pitch in since we usually have one tech
Walking pt to radiology, CT etc: yes
Testing urine: no, goes right to lab
Mixing meds: some, we're trying to get away from that and many of our meds are premixed now
All caths, ng insertions, trach suctioning: yes
Urban Level 2 Trauma Center:
Giving nebs No, RT does this.
Drawing own labs Frequently, but can be delegated to a Tech or occasionally a phlebotomist.
Starting your own iv's Frequently, can delegate to a Tech if too busy.
Running own blood gasses Draw my own ABGs, Lab runs them.
Cleaning own rooms This is a task assigned to the Techs, but I often do it because they are busy too. We also have volunteers who help out with this (also, if the room looks like a tornado hit, with dirty instruments, overflowing garbage, full urinals or post Mayo enema BSCs, and all kinds of nastiness, I try really hard not to leave it for the Tech/volunteer).
Walking pt to radiology, CT etc If the patient is critical, on a vasoactive drip, or no Techs are available.
Testing urine I dip it, if anything is positive, I send it to lab.
Mixing meds Depends on the med; some meds can only be mixed by pharmacy or the CN; mixing meds is one of our competencies.
All caths, ng insertions, trach suctioning I do my own caths and NGs, but RT handles advanced airway suctioning.
A thread about rural nursing got me thinking......are you doing this at your work?Giving nebs
Drawing own labs
Starting your own iv's
Running own blood gasses
Cleaning own rooms
Walking pt to radiology, CT etc
Testing urine
Mixing meds
All caths, ng insertions, trach suctioning
???
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Sometimes
Yes
Yes
Sometimes
Yes
We have respiratory and medics but it frequently works out where they are busy with another patient when you need them.
a thread about rural nursing got me thinking......are you doing this at your work?giving nebs- nope, respiratory does
drawing own labs- yes (techs can also)
starting your own iv's- yes (techs can also)
running own blood gasses- no, respiratory
cleaning own rooms- yes, sometimes
walking pt to radiology, ct etc- yes, sometimes
testing urine- we collect and send to lab...
mixing meds- some, most pharmacy does
all caths, ng insertions, trach suctioning- we do caths (techs can too), we do all ng's, and we sometimes do trach suctioning, but so does respiratory
???
love how easy it is to keep skills up, also makes you an iv pro
Giving nebs Sometimes
Drawing own labs Sometimes
Starting your own iv's Always. Who else would do that for me?
Running own blood gasses Never unless it's vbg
Cleaning own rooms Sometimes
Walking pt to radiology, CT etc Sometimes
Testing urine Huh? Like with dipsticks? Never. We don't stock them.
Mixing meds Sometimes
All caths, ng insertions, trach suctioning Always - who else would do it?
VICEDRN, BSN, RN
1,078 Posts
giving nebs: yup. rt will complain if you call them for something that small
drawing own labs: yup. unless you want to wait for phleb which takes until never or so
starting your own iv's: task is reserved to rns at my facility so yes
running own blood gasses: yes. rt complains if called for this too
cleaning own rooms: most of the time: yes. housekeeping wont touch medical equipment
walking pt to radiology, ct etc: all traumas: yes, all others: 50/50 rns and techs
testing urine: no except urine preg
mixing meds: depends, some yes
all caths, ng insertions, trach suctioning: yup!
i work at the big level i trauma in the city.