How Many Patients Do Your Monitor Tech's Watch?

Nurses General Nursing

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I am a Monitor Tech. that oversees the heart rhythms of up to 34 patients at a time. This often includeds o2 sat's. I am also part of a committe to decide the new procedures needed as my two units combine all the patients at one console. If both my units are full, the MT's will be watching up to 63 patients, with several o2 sat needs as well.

My main concern for now is "How much can a monitor tech. safely monitor?". I am wanting to know if anyone has a MT on their unit, and how many pt's do they monitor at one time? I really want to get a feel for what has been done and what can be done. We want to eliminate the human error factor as much as possible.

Any input on what you have observed will be invaluable info. for me and greatly appreciated.

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What kind of environment were these monitors in? Private room off to the side or in the middle of the nurses station or...? Your reply reflects our main concern. Thank you for your input!

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Sorry for the repeats. Thought I was replying to the individual.

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Specializes in Peds Cardiology,Peds Neuro,Pedi ER,PICU, IV Jedi.
Thank you for your input! What kind of environment were these monitors in? Private room off to the side or in the middle of the nurses station or...?

Our monitors are in the patient's rooms - they connect to the wall (the cardiac/apnea monitors). They are visible in the room as well as at the nurse's station...and our telemetry monitoring area. All CA monitor patients are centrally monitored as well, they just don't get strips done q4h.

We also have portable telemetry for our kids who's parents want to take them for a walk, hold them, et cetera. All of them can bee seen in the above locations too, and they don't have to be in their rooms.

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

WOW! Do U live ine city or country?

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

any monitoring for a unit i did was in a separate room.

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Specializes in Cardiology.

Each monitored unit used to have it's own monitor tech. Our monitor tech watched our 24 beds. Then administration had the bright idea to reduce the number of monitor techs by combining monitor stations. Our monitor tech now monitors two additional units, up to 48 patients at a time! It's very stressful for the monitor techs and I know a few of them are looking to move on elsewhere. When the monitor tech needs to run to the BR or wherever, I cover him and am so thankful when he comes back. Way too much for one person.

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sharona97-

I live on the outskirts of Minneapolis. I work about a mile away from down town.

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33 Patients

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Up to 35 if all patients are on monitors. There are 2 large screens that she sits in front of and is responsible for hooking the patients up to the monitor, changing batteries, printing out strips Q4 hrs, and notifying us of any abnormalities.

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I watch 18 ICU patients and 10 Telemetry patients and I feel comfortable with that number. I can not see watching more than 30 - 35 patients MAX.

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Specializes in CCU MICU Rapid Response.

OUr techs watch up to 20 on tele do all the order entry and secretary stuff and help keep an eye on ours in the ICU, which is up to 8. We usually run about 10 or so, and if our unit census is low, then the nurse is the tech, secretary and primary nurse for her 1 or 2 pts. By 0300, I have had my fill of strips! ~Ivanna

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Specializes in CCU MICU Rapid Response.

Shoot! I didnt see that this thread is old! :( Sorry.

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