Nurse doing monitor tech job

Sour Lemon · Jul 7, 2018

Hi I am a new nurse under 1 year. I am a float nurse at a community hospital. My question is that I was asked to sit at the monitor tech station when they were short a tech. I politely said I was not comfortable being in charge of 30+ patients, plus I was never trained on the station (job duties, how to print the slips, what to log etc.) the nursing Supervior was annoyed and said that because I am a float nurse I should have the skills to perform it.
I did email my manager saying that I would need a couple hours training on the job description if that was something that they would want me to do. Still awaiting a reply email but In the interim I was just wondering what u all thought? Most of the experienced nurses have no problem doing it, and even some of the new nurses but I just felt overwhelmed being asked to jump right in when I showed up that shift. I AM ACLS certified I just don't feel that confident yet. And while I'm at it, any great resources to hone my ACLS skills? It was a quick 4 hour class and I don't feel like it really sunk in. Thanks!

I always refused that job for the exact reasons you describe. They always found a replacement, but if I had been backed into a corner, I would have had to walk out without accepting the assignment. I took the class and passed the test. I know the "big" stuff. I also know my limits and have some sort of conscious that prevents me from pretending otherwise.

brownbook · Jul 7, 2018

The nurse manager is an idiot. Your response was very appropriate.

The stupidest issue is she could have sat with you maybe 1/2 hour and taught you about posting the strips. She could have assured you she would respond ASAP if you needed help and would stop by frequently to answer questions. She could have told the regular staff this was your first time and she expected them to help you out. (She probably didn't know how to do it herself.)

ACLS is hard if your only exposure is every 2 years taking a class. If you don't use it you lose it. I've taken it every two years since 1985. When I worked ICU and was house supervisor I felt very confident with my ACLS skills.

I changed jobs and haven't been to a code in years. I still renew every 2 years but would be almost useless in a code.

If you get the training and a chance work at the monitor tech station again your knowledge of arrhythmias will grow by leaps and bounds.

Floatnurse137 · Jul 7, 2018

Wow I'm so glad I'm not alone in this!

Floatnurse137 · Jul 7, 2018

Thank you so much! I feel a lot better about my choice now. And I do hope I can get some training on the monitors it really would grow my knowledge. But yes I'm not sure how great I am in a code. Only been in a few and that was always doing compressions. I want to be so much better as a nurse but sometimes I feel like my job doesn't really think "she's a new nurse" they say "well you've had a class". But I have definitely came a longgg way in 6 months.

Ps I BET the nursing supervisor doesn't know how to work the monitor tech station. I'm not sure but I have a hunch.