tech help in the unit

Specialties CCU

Published

Specializes in cardiology-now CTICU.

so, i'm new to critical care and i guess i am used to the teamwork on my old floor. i either need to change my expectations for help or talk to my manager about exactly what the tech's job description is on our unit. i need to know: how is it everywhere else as far as tech help? we have one tech on days and noc's shared between the two sides of the unit and their primary responsability seems to be stocking and equipment. don't get me wrong, stocking is important... but i could use some physical help sometimes. if you ask these techs to help you with a pt (turning/changing bed/getting the confused and intubated pt OOB via hoyer), you get withering looks and from one person a diatribe about how he is expected to do "everything around here". no, if i was asking you to do everything, i would hand you some towels and tell you room 3 needs a bath. instead i'm asking you to please help me turn the pt so i can change the bed. anyway, they wind up walking away and i (and others on my unit) wind up doing everything ourselves. it is a heavy job to do with no help and i'm thinking probably contributes to burn out. not to mention injuries. my back has been more sore working at this job than ever in the 3 years at my old job. thx for listening, shared experiences appreciated.

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Specializes in Cardiology.

That sounds like a tough situation. We have just one tech for our 26 bed CVICU and he helps with most bed baths and with getting patients up to chairs (plus doing supply and organizing equiptment between the rooms)- he's an amazing asset.

I think I'd recommend asking your supervisor for a written description of the tech job on your unit- I think most places have one. Even if there is no written description (or it doesnt help your case) I'd say something to the unit manager about this problem. I assume you're not the only nurse who would love the extra hands (and more willing/understanding attitude). Good luck!

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Specializes in Peds Cardiology,Peds Neuro,Pedi ER,PICU, IV Jedi.

I'm sorry for your experience, cardsrn...that stinks! As a tech myself I see that attitude all the time with other techs. They don't see it as their job to "assist the nurse"...which is what THEY WERE HIRED TO DO. Ugh. And the hospital just keeps hiring these lame O people.

Talk to your unit manager about getting some more help. Perhaps then the nurses can take get some newer, more willing blood on your unit.

Good luck.

vamedic4

;)

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I would definitely ask your NM about job duties. Some techs work just as stockers, whereas some do more patient care. I think it also depends on how many techs there are and how many beds are in the unit.

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we've only got a tech 4 nights a week, but when she is there she stocks the rooms and cleans when her help is not needed elsewhere, but if we're giving a bath, turning a patient, etc, she is there

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

sometimes i don't think it matters how many techs there are or what the job description is. some techs will help out, and others won't. i work with one now who will only help some of the nurses -- those she deems worthy of her help, i think. it's a well-known problem in my unit, but has yet to be addressed by management. i wish i had a tape recorder for the time she told me "i don't do any work after 6:00." (shift goes to 7:00). or when she said, "i only keep this job because i couldn't get paid this much for doing so little anywhere else!"

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Specializes in cardiology-now CTICU.

omg ruby. that's what i'm talking about. people who know they're not doing a damn thing and that other people are busting a** and who don't care!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I work as a tech in M/SICU and the same thing happens at my job alot. Some techs do nothing but most bust their buts. We transcribe doctors orders, order supplies, stock carts but some just outright refuse to touch a patient. Ridiculous!!! We are all there to help the patients. I wish that everyone could pitch in when needed.

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sometimes i don't think it matters how many techs there are or what the job description is. some techs will help out, and others won't. i work with one now who will only help some of the nurses -- those she deems worthy of her help, i think. it's a well-known problem in my unit, but has yet to be addressed by management. i wish i had a tape recorder for the time she told me "i don't do any work after 6:00." (shift goes to 7:00). or when she said, "i only keep this job because i couldn't get paid this much for doing so little anywhere else!"

wow. you should definitely tape record her and then let your manager listen to it. that takes alot of guts to admit to that.

i'd feel pretty guilty if i sat my butt in a chair for the last hour and watched everyone around me run around. the last hour of a shift seems to be the busiest.

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I am currently a LPN at a Rehabiltation facility, but before this I worked for a CCU for 2 years, and I absolutely LOVED it. I took my job seriously and I was every nurse's "right hand man" whenever I worked. I helped with bed baths/bed changes, transcribing orders, admissions, transfers, VS, putiing in & D/C foleys, stocking/ordering supplies, drawing blood, running to the lab/blood bank. The nurses and Doc's always let me see all the "cool" procedures. I think if you had a detailed job description of what the Tech should do, and go over it with them, there would be NO way they could say "that's not my job". Good luck!

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I feel you on this. I've been a tech in CCU for 2 years ( grad from rn schoolin may finally!) and i know there are techs who either downright refuse to do things, or are so surly or slow the nurses just wait for the next tech to come rather be bothered w said lazy/surly tech. This is a bad situation for all, i know when I work after some techs, I have to tx 3 pts at beginning of shift, stock all the carts, clean everybody, hunt down iv pumps etc. b/c the nurses know i'll do it and wont complain. However, some people forget one tech is stretched pretty far w 16 very sick pts and 8 nurses....

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I am currently a LPN at a Rehabiltation facility, but before this I worked for a CCU for 2 years, and I absolutely LOVED it. I took my job seriously and I was every nurse's "right hand man" whenever I worked. I helped with bed baths/bed changes, transcribing orders, admissions, transfers, VS, putiing in & D/C foleys, stocking/ordering supplies, drawing blood, running to the lab/blood bank. The nurses and Doc's always let me see all the "cool" procedures. I think if you had a detailed job description of what the Tech should do, and go over it with them, there would be NO way they could say "that's not my job". Good luck!

I feel the same way, I get excellent evals in clinicals and have seen and helped w a lot of cool stuff like bedside chest tube insertions, surgical debridements, codes etc. I thank ccu for all those wonderful experiences and a great education! Some techs are really missing a great opp'ty!

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