scizzerin

I work in a smaller hospital, so we combine our cardiac w/ icu stepdown, it's a PCU.(progressive) we have 20 PCU beds and 8 ICU beds. we have cardiac, trachs, bipaps and others in PCU, but vents only in ICU. In ICU, RN to pt ratio is 2:1 max, and PCU is 4:1 max. Techs are employed with 4 for the whole unit, usually no more than 8 pts per tech. We have LOTS of cardiac caths, since we have a cath lab, and the next closest hospital doesn't, lots of respiratory issues. I LOVE being in a smaller hospital, and everyone works well together. My sis was in a PCU in Cincinnati they had 5:1 patient ratio, but they had only one tech for a 40 bed unit (yikes!) doing q4 vitals! GOOD LUCK!!

I don't care, except that I'm not a nurse yet! For some reason, pt's think I'm a 'real nurse', but I'll correct them with, "No, I'm your tech but I can get So-snd-so for you, who's your nurse."

Crappy attitudes come in all shapes, sizes and departments. I had my daughter @ 30 wks, and would have LOVED to make it to 37 wks!

te he he!!!! if only......

I don't know about that, but it sounds logical, with CHF pts. I've a few die shortly after a really good bed bath, but I hadn't paid attention to which side they were on. I joked that I cleaned them to death....

I am a PSP (patient support partner) They name us different in whatever facility, because I've heard it many ways. I am a certified nursing assistant (CNA) went through a training course for that certification. I am not in nursing school yet, still working on my prerequisites. We do vitals, blood sugars, bathing and what not, basically being the wind beneath nurses wings (good ones...but that's another story) I've held my position for almost 6 months, but soon I'll be eligible to go through a hospital training to do blood draws and insert & remove foley catheters. I don't know how different it is in a LTCF, as I work in a hospital (ICU/PCU) I agree with the above poster about checking out the facilities' job description. Good luck! You'll learn so much more actually being there and doing it. I swear I never leave a shift without feeling like I've learned something new.

Hi. On my unit, we just recently adopted assigning BP cuffs to each patient, that follows them if they are transferred or thrown away when they are discharged. Before, it was a pain to clean the equiptment when exiting the room (the cuff & o2 sat) then have to wait for it to dry before going to the next pt. Yes I always alcohol my stethoscope, BUT...with that being said... I know others don't take the time, and I know I'm a germophobe (sp?) which is more why I do it rather than policy, although there is a policy. I wash down the entire cart (dynamap) when I work, stocking it with extra cuffs, hand sanitizer & telemetry stickies, but it seems no one else does. Yes, I am a bit OCD.... he he he... Germs=me sick= no work= no rent

I agree 100% percent about the above poster's suggestion to become a CNA. That's what I do now, and I work in an small ICU/PCU. I love it, but a lot isn't what I thought it would be. Lots of poop! LOL! I figured if I can handle to gross stuff and see nurses 'in action', then I can make the decision whether to spend the money for school.(I am) Good luck!

Man, here I thought ole grandma was getting senile.... She does it and swears by it, but not for RLS, more for general aches & pains.

I wish we had a uniform! Everyone just wears scrubs, and whatever kind or coor. Housekeeping is the only difference; they wear burgundy. I'm a tech, and constantly get med questions or the pt just starts in on their issue (I'm still in school! Let me get your nurse for you....) I guess in a way, it's good, that my behavior/demeanor makes people think I'm a nurse. But... The guy who whipped his butt out of his gown to 'show the nurse the problem'.....ah, well......Let me get your nurse for you......

Thank you, everyone who replied to my post. If anything, it has solidified my intention to be a nurse.

Hello all. This seems like the best place to do a wee bit of venting. I had a patient (I'm a tech in an ICU) for 3 12's in a row. She was a crack up and her family was awesome, and I really enjoyed taking care of her. She had been getting better (pneumonia) and suddenly coded after they moved her to Med Surg. I am not saying anything bad about med surg, it was the lack of caring or shock.Like, oh yeah, she died. I cried over this funny lady, hugged her family and what not. I think maybe I'm too emotional for this job. The lady's niece said, "I hope you stick with your school because I think you'll make a great nurse one day." What's proper? Or normal, for that matter? I can see it in a LTC setting; you really get to know these people. The way some of the other techs talk about patients ticks me off. They'll describe someone as a PITA, and from my viewpoint they aren't that at all. I did hair for 10 years before this, and still a relatively new cna. Just call me miss customer service. Eh.... just bummed, I guess.

Thanks for the post. I'm in school and working as a tech in an icu, and after an especially hectic day, a lady with whom I was caring for her elderly aunt said, "Honey, I hope you stick with it; you have a good heart." That made me feel my efforts weren't wasted.

I'm a tech now, and I LOVE working with the nurses who show their passion for patient care. I agree about the skin care and bathing being an integral part of the nursing assessment, and have seen nurses 'find' something that requires a change in their care plan. There are a few nurses (who are not necessarily new) who hate bedside and don't even see the patient unless I report a 300 blood sugar! Thank God they are few and far between. Lauralassie......DON'T EAT ME!!

Where I work, each Christmas, we all pitch in to get a 'care package' for one of us in need. We keep it confidential, and no one knows who's getting it, but everyone pitches in and votes who they think it should go to. In the past, we had grocery coupons, movie passes, massage & pedicure package, and Molly Maids. You are very kind to want to help, but I know (like the above poster) that sometimes it's hard to admit you need help. I hope everything goes well.