Clinical techs or CNA's in the NICU

Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN · May 9, 2018

Only the nurses there are no nurses aides,had volunteers once but they caused problems.Once in a blue moon a MD might feed one.

vintage_RN, BSN, RN · May 11, 2018

Our level 2 has a ratio of 1:3, sometimes 4 if we're short. We have aides but they are technical aides, they stock supplies, clean equipment etc....they don't touch babies.

callie16, BSN · May 23, 2018

I work in a Level II/III NICU. Our Level 2 ratio is 3:1 (4:1 if we're short). We have patient care techs (CNAs without the certification) and they do all our stocking, making appointment, assisting MDs with circumcisions, etc. They are allowed to do diaper changes, check temps, and bottle babies if the RN asks them to. It's usually up to the discretion of the RN and comfort/competence level of the tech. They only bottle our stable babies, never the ones who are just learning to bottle or those that struggle with it.

AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · May 25, 2018

FYI I would leave out where you work and stay anonymous!

Annie

fulitarn, BSN, RN · Jun 20, 2018

I am at a military hospital and we use non-licensed medics. They have a long orientation period with both another medic and an nurse before they are allowed to take feeder growers (doing all po/ng feeds) with po meds. Once in a while they'll get IV amp/gent or bili lights. We never assign them a kid on O2 unless it is a stable ex- preemie who is going home on O2.

But they still have to be supervised by a licensed RN, so the RN will have their 2-3 patients, and will also be covering a medics 2-3 patients, so there is potential to be responsible for 6 patients during your shift. The RN has to watch and verify charting, sign off assessments and meds and be aware of what is going on with all 6 babies. We personally aren't big fans of the way it works, but don't really have much say in the policy.