Nurse drawn ABGs vs RT drawn

[Puff RN]

I have only worked in 2 hospitals - 1 critical care unit - 1 sicu. In both of these units RNs drew ABGs from art lines and RT drew ABGs without a line. I am going traveling in June = do I need to learn how to drawn ABGs without a line to go into other units.

[hrtprncss]

You should, because there are places where RN's are required to draw blood gases even if the patient doesn't have an A-line. Besides, it'd be a good idea because you won't have to wait for someone else to draw it for you, that is if you have the time and you need it done right away.

[Puff RN]

Thanks for the advice. i will work on it where I work now - I have a friendly RT who will coach. Funny that I never thought of this before. I am soooo spoiled.

[Bruce RN]

Don't sweat all of that.

When you start traveling, you will find that many things are done differently than your comfort zone hospital experience you have right now.

It always amazes me to start a new assignment with the staff doing things a certain way and they are completely amazed that things aren't done exactly the way that they do it at their hospital from coast to coast.

I did a little travel nursing as a med/surg nurse, then decided that I should get some more experience before traveling again.

I ended up working in an ICU where the nurses not only drew their own gases, we inserted our own A-lines. That was how I was introduced to ICU and knew no differently.

I took my first ICU travel assignment and the charge nurse about fell over passed out when she saw me get my supplies ready and set up to put in an A-line after the doc ordered it.

Nurses putting in A-lines at this hospital was absolutely forbidden and that only MD's were allowed to insert A-lines.

Well how would I know that as a brand new traveler????

(I studied the practice act prior to starting work and it was not outside of my scope in this particular state.)

I learned quickly to ask a lot of questions and not to assume that every ICU works the same way as the one I was trained in.

You'll do fine.

[ceska2]

Dont worry too much about having to draw ABG's. After you have done a couple you will find that they really arent any harder than starting an IV. If you miss you can always get another RN or let a RT have a try.

[Puff RN]

Thanks for the advice. I appreciate that I am probably worrying too much about details at this point. I know if I was in my home environment it wouldn't be a big deal, I would either get it or not, and if not---someone else would help me.