Need your advice...

Don't forget I/O. Whether the doctor orders I/O or not, nearly all patients should have I/O documented as well as % of meals eaten. Your nurses will love you if you can hand them a sheet with I/O recorded on it.

Tell the nurse ASAP of abnormal vs.

Don't try to give EVERYONE a bed bath. Bathing is an important part of getting people rehabbed and ready to go home. Although it is easier and faster to bathe someone yourself, the pt should be doing as much as possible and pushed to do more than they think they can. So help the pt set up for a bath (whether basin, at sink or in shower), hand them the wash cloth and tell them that this is part of physical therapy. They are to wash everything they can reach and you will assist them with the hard parts to reach.

Cover up IV sites before sticking a patient in the shower. Cut the fingers off of a glove, slide the glove "tube" over the site, and tape both ends. It's quick and easy and the patients will be impressed that you thought to do it.

After vs at the beginning of the shift, get everyone fresh water so they have something to wash the pills down with.

That's all I can think of. Good luck and thanks for wanting to be such a help to the nurses.

It bugs me when my techs call to tell me that my pt's off tele when they've been taken for a procedure. I know it's not their fault (because the transporter should have told them), but it still bugs me. Otherwise, I love my TT's. They also play secretary, so they're a great help overall.

I have been a CNA for many years and am getting ready to start a new job as a tech on the surgical floor while I am in NS (I've worked mostly LTC, home health and in the OR). I was wondering if any of the experienced med/surg nurses could offer me some tips and advice to working the floor...like, what makes a good tech and what are some of the things techs do that really bug you? I know the floor is VERY busy and I really want to make a good impression. TIA---Val

Kudos to you valify for wanting to make such a good impression, RN 1989 had such good tips, I don't have much to add to that. The main thing I think is doing your job well and be available to help the rest of the staff on the unit when you are able. Being motivated and enthusiastic is the biggest issue. I get very frustrated at techs in where you have to tell them to do parts of their job that they should be doing anyway.

The only thing I can think to add to RN1989 wonderful advice is to be diligent in recording BM's esp the color, consistancy and frequency. This can be very important not only for pt comfort, (remember, what goes in must come out) but also in diagnostics. For instance, black tarry stools can be indicative of a GI bleed or unusally malodorous diarrhea could be C. Difficile which requires antibiotic therapy. Be sure and report any unusal findings to your charge nurse. I'd like to commend you on the initiative shown and wish the best of luck in your career.