Nurse Tech

[Crazy_L&D]

I am new to the role of precepting graduate nurses. Currently at our facility, a couple of new grads have failed the NCLEX. As preceptors, we were instructed that this meant those persons returned to a nurse intern role, but no other info was given to us as to what exactly they can or cannot do. After doing some of my own research on the department of Wisconsin nursing site I found that these individuals are to function as Nurse Tech's. However, what exactly can they do? Pass meds under supervision? Chart assessments with my supervision in the labor flow sheet? What? Any good resources that you could suggest that I c:no:ould take back to management would be heplful as well.

[RaElrA]

I am a student working as a Nurse Tech. I do not pass meds, although I must check the charts, labs, VS, etc., then "troll" for a nurse who has the time to administer said meds. Frighteningly, I have little or no supervision for these duties. I basically do everything other than take the meds out of the Pyxis and hand them to the patients. What these girls can or cannot do as Techs, having failed the NCLEX, I don't know, but I'd sure be careful if I were the preceptor...is your license not at jeopardy for your preceptees' actions? Mayby I'm wrong...I'm just a Tech...

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

There should be a list of things under the Wisconsin BON's website that they can and can't do. If you have to, call the BON and talk to a human being and have them send you something written that clearly delineates what techs can/can't do. In the meantime, I wouldn't have them pass meds or assess patients. I know that is a pretty vague answer....sorry.

(ETA - I just visited the Wisconsin BON's site to see if I could find anything....it is not very clear. I'd be on the phone with them for some clarification if I were you. Hope this helps.)

[BookwormRN]

I'm in Wisconsin and did work as a Nurse Tech prior to graduation.

I worked under the direct supervision of the RN and was able to do many things in that role.

I passed medications, did assessments (RN to follow and check said assessments) hung IV antibiotics, IV push pain meds, put in foleys, started IVs....pretty much everything that I passed in the skills class at school, except of course, hang blood.

There was a lengthy orientation period and I did have to show paperwork stating that I had passed these skills. It was really then up to the individual RNs to decide how comfortable they were with me doing these things...I had to show them that I knew what I was doing.

Hope this helps.

[shannonFNP, BSN, MSN, RN]

I am a nurse tech in Texas (GVN PENDING PAPERWORK!!!). Under the NPA a tech ABSOLUTELY CANNOT GIVE MEDS. It doesn't matter if they're PO, IV, etc. CANNOT. I can start IVs (and per policy we can't give fluids, but in other hospitals a tech can as long as it does not have meds added). I can start foleys, NGs, etc. A tech can chart on the patient, but it doesnt excuse the nurse from doing the charting. For example, before I worked ER I worked medsurg. I would chart the safety rounds q2h, assessment, nurses notes. However the nurse would definately have to do her own assessment. She could sign behind my name, or she could do her own. She didnt need to double chart the safety rounds and other notes that I wrote. Basically you're a nurse who can't give meds. You can remind the nurse when meds are due, but she should know bc she didnt STOP having that patient just because you assisted her with them. Hope this helps!

[mysterious_one, ASN, RN]

I am a nurse tech in Texas (GVN PENDING PAPERWORK!!!). Under the NPA a tech ABSOLUTELY CANNOT GIVE MEDS. It doesn't matter if they're PO, IV, etc. CANNOT. I can start IVs (and per policy we can't give fluids, but in other hospitals a tech can as long as it does not have meds added). I can start foleys, NGs, etc. A tech can chart on the patient, but it doesnt excuse the nurse from doing the charting. For example, before I worked ER I worked medsurg. I would chart the safety rounds q2h, assessment, nurses notes. However the nurse would definately have to do her own assessment. She could sign behind my name, or she could do her own. She didnt need to double chart the safety rounds and other notes that I wrote. Basically you're a nurse who can't give meds. You can remind the nurse when meds are due, but she should know bc she didnt STOP having that patient just because you assisted her with them. Hope this helps!

I am also in Texas working on an L&D floor as a new RN intern. We also have a graduate nurse who did not pass her NCLEX, she now unfortunatly is not allowed to do any skills that she was able to do as a graduate nurse or nurse tech (skills like the above poster mentioned above).

She is not licensed and is no longer a student nurse, so she is basicly in limbo until she passes NCLEX. All she is able to do are duties as, say a CNA would do. She still follows her preceptor and the preceptor still teaches her verbally and by demonstration all the nursing duties, but she will have to wait until she passes boards to once again jump in to do those herself. These are the rules here in Texas, there may be different rules where you are.

[shannonFNP, BSN, MSN, RN]

I am also in Texas working on an L&D floor as a new RN intern. We also have a graduate nurse who did not pass her NCLEX, she now unfortunatly is not allowed to do any skills that she was able to do as a graduate nurse or nurse tech (skills like the above poster mentioned above).

She is not licensed and is no longer a student nurse, so she is basicly in limbo until she passes NCLEX. All she is able to do are duties as, say a CNA would do. She still follows her preceptor and the preceptor still teaches her verbally and by demonstration all the nursing duties, but she will have to wait until she passes boards to once again jump in to do those herself. These are the rules here in Texas, there may be different rules where you are.

My facility is the same way. After you finish nursing school, you can no longer function as a tech. There are a few weeks from graduation where you have to just wait it out until your GN permit comes in. I can still function as a tech as I wait on my GVN permit because I'm still in RN school, I just opted to become a LVN midway through school.