I am a new nurse (8 months) currently work on an all-nursing medical-surgical unit with 30 beds. Our current nurse/patient ratio is 1:3 when fully staffed. Our ration would change to 1:4-5 with 2 PCTs
Currently, there are no PCTs/CNAs on our floor and we do not have a float nurse.
We are voting on getting PCTs and I am not sure how to vote. This is the only floor I have worked on, so I don't have much to compare my experience to.
My patients are adults, 1-2 of my patients are bed bound and require bathing and turning during my shift. Sometimes, our patients need feeding as well. Many of the patients I care for would be in step-down units in smaller hospitals.. My unit is also known for having difficult to handle patients, we take patients that every other hospital in my state refuses to care for..
How do you feel PCTs impact the care of your patients? I feel that whenever I am handling a MET call, passing medications, or hanging blood, often times it is hard to balance other priorities like feeding and bathing as well.
It's not your job to supervise techs. We are your coworkers not your employees. You're wondering wether or not you want extra help on your floor? That's really easy- of course! Teamwork makes the dream work lol
Personally, I think techs are great! I've not had issues with any on our unit. That being said, I'm pretty decent at delegating. I was a tech once as well. I'm not going to call a tech to get a patient a glass of water or a cup of coffee when I'm already in the room or walking out. Delegating is a skill that takes time, as someone else mentioned, it will be a difficult transition, but worth it for your patients. Patient A should not have to forgo a bath or ambulation because Patient B is having a medical emergency. Techs will help to fill in the gaps.
Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.
It's not your job to supervise techs. We are your coworkers not your employees. You're wondering wether or not you want extra help on your floor? That's really easy- of course! Teamwork makes the dream work lol
Excuse me? You may want to read up on your misconceptions...check out your state's nurse practice act...we may not hire you but we do supervise you. (Speaking from six years of CNA experience)
Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.
It's not your job to supervise techs. We are your coworkers not your employees. You're wondering wether or not you want extra help on your floor? That's really easy- of course! Teamwork makes the dream work lol
Again, this should have been CNA 101 but I digress...
It's not your job to supervise techs. We are your coworkers not your employees. You're wondering wether or not you want extra help on your floor? That's really easy- of course! Teamwork makes the dream work lol
. Actually, it IS our job to supersize techs. It's the law.
CNA's, MST's who are experienced are a valuable member of the team. Inexperienced ones are many times sponges waiting to absorb! On my unit, they were sometimes the ones to notice the subtle changes my RN's missed! The key to a great working relationship is respect, collaboration and teamwork! Provide opportunities to teach when available and be open to suggestions any member makes! I started out as a Nurses Aid before certification was required, was working while also in school. The RN's who saw me as an asset were the RN's who motivated me the most! Lack of respect, power plays and pushing the hierarchy envelope can cost a RN a reputation that's hard to lose. As the manager of my two units later in my career, some of my MST's were at times the ones who "sounded the alarm" to me when they reported something to their RN who ignored them! There are good and bad in all areas of practice! A well-oiled machine is one where each knows their duties, works independent when needed or together as necessary! The ultimate goal is a positive outcome for all including the patient at the center of the team!
I would not trade NURSES for techs. At my current job, I have a LAZY tech who has attitude and rarely helps when help is needed. Techs dont care because simply they dont have a license to LOSE if pt falls etc. The whole liability falls on us instead. So who do you think will carry more responsibility with their actions? I won't trade my nurses for techs. My opinion.
Well ,alot has changed in my 20 years of nursing. I started as a CNA. I first of all don’t agree with the name change. Patient care tech means no nursing assistant. The position has changed entirely from what I see. No longer responsible to delegation of the RN. The tech usually can’t take vital signs, most recently can’t take blood sugars and if you are lucky they may be able to assist with bathing or ordering the patient a meal. There’s is no organization To the new model , I don’t know where they find these joker s tgat institute these guidelines.
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InScrubs_Wyoming307
57 Posts
It's not your job to supervise techs. We are your coworkers not your employees. You're wondering wether or not you want extra help on your floor? That's really easy- of course! Teamwork makes the dream work lol