Do you take primary care of acute pts?

[aathomstew]

I was wondering how many nurses have to take report from the primary nurse during dialysis. We do all our treatments at the pts bedside so they still have all their cares done by the primary nurse assigned to them. So during the HD run my concerns are mainly focused on the tx. I have the pt push their call light if they want anything else. Of course I don't mind helping out with small request. Since I work for the dialysis center which is separate from the hospitals I try to keep boundries. How do other units handle this?

[ageless]

Have to take report?...I expect report! I work on protocols based on the patients current condition and then decide my course of action. I also need to be able to give the physician report if he comes by.... I am not employed by the hospital, but the information exchange is necessary.

Perhaps, I am not understanding your question because it sounds as though you feel you do not need to know the total picture.

[nursekat1962]

I have been doing acutes for approx 2 months now and understand some of the differences between the floor nurse and my duties. When it comes to insulin, we are not expected to administer this. Also, the IV drips are the floor nurse responsablitiy. Just as they would not touch our machines, I won't touch theirs!!!!!!!!!!

However, when it comes to immediate needs i.e. bedpans, emesis basins and changing a soiled bed, I will always assist.

There are some dialysis nurses who don't feel this is their jobs.

Most of the floor nurses don't give us report, but it is essential for good care.

This is such an interesting field that I probably won't go back to acute dialysis.

Later,

nursekat1962

[ageless]

This is an interesting subject and makes for a good debate. I don't see it as "their drips", I see it as the patient's drips and will titrate them accordingly or ask that they be titrated to a certain mcg.

Most times there is not time to leave the room to hunt a nurse down, I will do it first and then call for the nurse to report the change.

I am trained in med administration so my license covers me, but they are not trained in dialysis so they leave the machine to me.

It would freak me out to wait it out and see when the primary nurse is coming.......