PCA/tech OB

Editorial Team / Admin · Oct 8, 2015

Way back when I interviewed for an OB tech position, pretty much the only job duties involved stocking. Now, since I was a nursing student, they did say they might have me take vitals from time to time. But definitely ask what the job entails during the interview.

BeachsideRN, ASN · Oct 8, 2015

Way back when I interviewed for an OB tech position, pretty much the only job duties involved stocking. Now, since I was a nursing student, they did say they might have me take vitals from time to time. But definitely ask what the job entails during the interview.

Thanks! I will definitely ask. I was just hoping to try and get some idea of what they might be expecting. When I did a Google search it was all over the map - from stocking to scrubbing.

**LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM** · Oct 8, 2015

Our OB techs stock the floor, assist with cleaning up mom and changing the bed after delivery, and assist with transporting to Mother/Baby as needed. They can also run labs or fetch supplies in an emergency. Most of ours are also certified scrub techs or being trained for it, but not all.

ashleyisawesome, BSN, RN · Oct 8, 2015

Ours float between L&D, PP and the nursery.

In L&D they stock stuff, set up our birthing tables for the docs, scrub for C-Sections, run bloodwork to the tube to send it to the lab, occasionally help someone to the bathroom or get them drinks (but I am in my room 90% of the time and do these things myself).

In PP they get vitals, help people to the bathroom, get them drinks/food/towels/blankets, empty/remove foleys, draw blood work, help with breastfeeding, run babies back and forth between the nursery and the moms room, set up rooms for new admissions.

In the nursery they do baby blood work, feed babies, change diapers, give baths, get blood sugars, assist in circs, stock, run babies back to their moms, etc.

As a nurse, I usually do all of this stuff too, but the techs are there to help out (If I am helping with breastfeeding in one room and my other patient is ringing for a drink, the tech will go get it for them.)

**LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM** · Oct 8, 2015

I forgot to add that our L&D techs make delivery tables too. The techs on Mother/Baby take mom and baby's vitals, fetch ice, water, blankets, etc., help moms with peri care, and help with feedings and changings. Those techs only stay on M/B, they don't come down to L&D and aren't scrub techs.

BeachsideRN, ASN · Oct 8, 2015

Goodness. That sounds like good experience! I'm excited. I hope they call back ðŸ˜€

klone, MSN, RN · Oct 8, 2015

At a couple hospitals I worked at, they did quite a bit - they helped out with deliveries, and also were trained as scrub techs for C/S.

nurseactivist · Oct 9, 2015

Ours float between L&D, PP and the nursery.
In L&D they stock stuff, set up our birthing tables for the docs, scrub for C-Sections, run bloodwork to the tube to send it to the lab, occasionally help someone to the bathroom or get them drinks (but I am in my room 90% of the time and do these things myself).
In PP they get vitals, help people to the bathroom, get them drinks/food/towels/blankets, empty/remove foleys, draw blood work, help with breastfeeding, run babies back and forth between the nursery and the moms room, set up rooms for new admissions.
In the nursery they do baby blood work, feed babies, change diapers, give baths, get blood sugars, assist in circs, stock, run babies back to their moms, etc.
As a nurse, I usually do all of this stuff too, but the techs are there to help out (If I am helping with breastfeeding in one room and my other patient is ringing for a drink, the tech will go get it for them.)

This looks like another example of nurses giving up our scope of practice to technicians. Not a good thing...

Postpartum RN · Oct 9, 2015

Wow, OB techs taking vitals on neonates? And drawing neonates bloodwork? I've never heard of this before.

OBwonKnewbie · Dec 29, 2015

It will vary by hospital. On our floor they are not able to do much unfortunately. They stock rooms, round on our pp mom's and get them supplies/drinks, watch babies for us and occasionally help us hold legs for laboring moms if there is no family support in the room. For babies, they can weigh, change diapers, do feeds, and vitals. They cannot perform any "sticks" on mom or baby, so no dex's or labs. They ate not trained in sterile technique so they are not allowed to scrub sections or set up delivery tables. I think their job is pretty easy/boring compared to nurse aides working in med surg, for instance.

cayenne06, MSN, CNM · Jan 4, 2016

Wow, OB techs taking vitals on neonates? And drawing neonates bloodwork? I've never heard of this before.

There's no reason a properly trained tech can't do these things. I'd rather an experienced tech draw blood on my baby than have ME, a seasoned LDRP RN, former CPM x 10 years, and now CNM, try to make that stick.

This looks like another example of nurses giving up our scope of practice to technicians. Not a good thing...

I disagree. Rote medical tasks that do not require assessment can be delegated to properly trained personnel. I imagine that anyone taking baby vitals has been trained and checked for competency, and the same for blood draws. Checking resps/HR/temp on a baby is definitely appropriate for a tech. And a tech who is doing multiple baby draws every day is going to be much better at it than someone like me, who has only done it a handful of times. The RN is still going to assess the kid, nobody is asking the tech to look for s/s RDS or sepsis or whatever, or decide which labs to run or fluids to hang.

That isn't infringing on our scope any more than an RN is infringing on an MD/DO/NP/PA's scope by utilizing standing orders.

Of course, if a facility is using techs in order to stretch their nurse/patient ratio and save some money, that is a real problem.

In CT, medical assistants are apparently not allowed to give injections (but they can draw blood, which is apparently soooo much less risky?). I was spoiled in MA by having someone to give all my depos and vaccines. Now I have to do it myself unless our part time LPN is around. :kicksdirt: