I know it's been discussed a million times but I really don't understand why nurses who are on a vent/trach/gt case can't do:
Vent circuit change
Know how to respond to alarms
Change trach ties
How to give a bolus feed
Check availability of a med
Read a MAR
I've been doing this for 5 yrs now and have seen some crazy things. If you don't know, don't ask, pretend you know - you putting the client at risk as well as your license. While I know the response will be the agency just wants warm bodies...I get that and agree to a certain extent. We as nurses need to take responsibility!!! At the end of the day it's our license and the agency isn't going to protect you if something goes wrong.
You need to advocate for yourself. Example: I've been doing peds for a long time...trach/vent/gt...agency asked if I would cover at a camp-no orientation. NO was my answer. While I know I have the ability I've never worked in that environment or with that population. I would ask for orientation but based on my schedule there's no time based on the needs. Do I need to the money? YES...but the possible outcomes don't out weigh the benefits.
Just my opinion cause I'm tired of hearing/reading the excuses 'it wasn't done cause I don't know how to do it. I didn't ask for help. I'll just do what I do know and ignore what it says in the MAR. The agency put me here.' Take responsibility for yourself!