Transport

Specialties NICU

Published

Just wondering what everyones protocol is for training to be transport. Is everyone required to do it? Is there a special team in your NICU? Thanks!

Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

The issues are as follows:

1. Every nurse on the unit is required to sign up for call, regardless of skill level/comfort level/competency.

2. NO training. "We got a new transporter. It's parked over there. Familiarize yourself with it when you have time."

3. "We are NOT training anyone to intubate! The babies will already be intubated when you get to the hospital!"

4. No MD or NNP traveling. Facilities we'll be servicing are all rural, 2-3 hours away, non-peds facilities.

5. We're a border town, where 50%+ will have no prenatal care, no steroids, etc.

and on and on and on.

Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

Lordy. WHY do they want to do them in the 1st place?

Is it only an RN? Are you able to send an RT with you too at least?

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

Holy crap, wonder what legal would have to say!!! We have been called to testify on kids we have picked up!

Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

There are 3 level 3 NICUs within 10 miles, so we're doing it for the business, I'm sure. And yeah, an RN and an RT is the team, plus whatever the ambulance crew can help with. I doubt legal knows we're doing it.

Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

The more I hear, the less it seems to be workable. Not every hospital should do every thing. I guess you should keep on dodging if you can. Yikes.

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

I think I would have to send a little anonymous tip to risk management. We have protocols in place and training on ground and air vehicles. We had to be checked off on line placement and art sticks. We don't intubate since we have RT and a fellow with us for every transport. We do have to be able to set up the vent and nitric on the isolette. Ugh, I feel for you!!!

Specializes in NICU.

Curious about people's opinions of and experience with transports that do vs. do not include providers (NNP or physician). Our unit has a high transport volume, and all our transports are staffed with an NNP. I know that some of the transport skills are technically within the scope of practice, depending on your state, but I have a hard time believing that outcomes are better ( or even matched) when nurses are running transport rather than NNPs or MDs. But, I don't actually have experience with a unit like that, so that's why I'm curious. This is not to critique transport nurses. It just seems like with all the additional skills required, you're basically trying to make a functional nurse practitioner out of someone and be able to pay them less money. Feel free to refute me!

Specializes in NICU.

I know this is somewhat old, but here goes:

After a year working in the NICU, we can go on transport as "Second Nurse"--help with paperwork, assist as needed, ect.

Also attending is a "First Nurse" who is either a NNP or RN who has been specially trained and can intubate, place lines as needed, a RT, and occasionally a resident.

There's always a first nurse on call, second nurse is either on call or pulled from the floor (and someone else called in to cover the assignment).

Follow up question:

Does your facility require PALS for a NICU nurse (on staff) to be a NICU transport nurse?

+ Add a Comment