Do you have CNAs in your ICU?

RNperdiem, RN · Feb 9, 2008

My ICU started using CNA's during days and evenings. It has worked out very well. Almost all of our patients need turns every 2 hours, help getting cleaned, and their bedside carts restocked.

Most of our CNA's are nursing students.

I work in a 16 bed SICU with 1-2 unit secretaries, a charge nurse without a patient assignment, and sometimes coverage from a transport nurse for patient transport.

HolJ · Feb 9, 2008

we have one PCA for 30 beds, which is not enough. Most frequently their help is used for cleaning, turning, accu checks if they have time. They carry a unit phone, but are constantly being paged over head. One person can't be everywhere. Thank god for them!

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Feb 9, 2008

Never.

bigmona · Feb 9, 2008

we almost always have at least one, sometimes 2. they help us with turns, restock supply carts, get blood products, etc. thank god they're around, it's a huge help!

Rage, RN · Feb 9, 2008

I'm in my last semester at NS and just got a PCT job in MCC at a level 1 hospital. Including myself, there will be 3 total PCT's on a 30 bed floor. This hospital will hire new grads into ICU only if they PCT on the floor first. This is pretty much a pilot program since PCT's in ICU have only been going on for about 4 months now and they will only hire students which are in the top 1/3 of their class and want to go into ICU nursing upon graduating.

So since I'm motivated to be there, interested in learning everything I can about it, and want as much experience as I can to be a good ICU nurse its to both of our benefit. Since my college has a specific "critical care" class most of my clinicals were at this hospital as well so I knew most of the nurses and the manager.

AntFlip7395 · Feb 11, 2008

No nursing assistants in my ICU. Our unit manager said we could have one-if we give up an RN. I don't know about you all, but as useful as a tech could be, I'd rather have the licensed person.

love-d-OR · Feb 11, 2008

Im a student nurse and I was as a CNA/PCT/CCP in my hospitals float pool. We staff the ICU's too. The hospital uses one CNA for 3-8 patients. If their are more than 8 patients. They are rarely without a CNA during the day shift.

lorilou22RN · Feb 19, 2008

Negative. We do TPC. Blood sugars min of q4. VS min of q1, turns min of q2. It can be hectic, but well as the OP said we could have a UAP, but we too would have to give up the RN, and I too would prefer the licensed staff.

Rage, RN · Feb 21, 2008

Personally I think that ANY manager that would give you the option of a NT or an RN is being ridiculous. If that were the case then I'd be very concerned about their budgets because they have to be running very tight and actually too tight. Which then begs the question of whether they are understaffed as it is and what the patient/nurse ratios are.

Does your facility have sitters as well? If not then what are your fall ratios? TPC, VS q1 and turns q2 are minimum requirements at my hospital and although not completely handled by the NT they do take a huge load off of the RN with care, procedures, and transport......But then you have to remember that to be in ICU as a NT in my hospital you have to be in the upper 1/3 of your class and in the last semester of NS school so your basically finishing up and waiting to take your boards. Step down units don't have the same strict requirements of their CNAs or NTs........ But personally I think if I was doing a dressing change for a chest tube, or securing a patient's vent and needed another piece of tape then it would be nice to have someone there to help without pulling another RN away from her patient........but then that's just me.

rgroyer1RNBSN, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2008

There being rediculous I could hire 2 UAP's if we gave up an RN, which no offense I wouldnt do, but my SICU uses RN's and LPN's usually the LPN's work with an RN do some nursing duties and the Aide duties, which is great since there licensed and believe me there used to there full capacity.

RNFELICITY · May 9, 2008

My ICU started using CNA's during days and evenings. It has worked out very well. Almost all of our patients need turns every 2 hours, help getting cleaned, and their bedside carts restocked.
Most of our CNA's are nursing students.
I work in a 16 bed SICU with 1-2 unit secretaries, a charge nurse without a patient assignment, and sometimes coverage from a transport nurse for patient transport.

wow, I wanna come work at your hospital. Great support!!!!