GInurse2007

i really appreciate the responses to this post. i am gathering all the materials i can to support the position of requiring a tech in the room to assist the md, so the reference to aacn was helpful. the brn for my state says the following: "the registered nurse managing the care of the patient receiving iv conscious sedation shall have no other responsibilities that would leave the patient unattended or compromise continuous monitoring." i have been basically told that doing the tech functions does not violate this guidline because i can still see the monitor, so the continous monitoring is not compromised. to me though, my attention is split too much when focusing even for a short time on doing the tech functions and i feel that there is a compromise to continous monitoring. also the monitor does not give a complete picture on patient condition. it is an argument that i am willing to have with my employer, and hopefully be able to keep my job. that is why i am trying to get all info i can. thanks again.

I need help with this. I am very new to GI nursing and recently started working for an Endo Center. I have become concerned because the staffing seems to be a real problem. Currently we are running 2 rooms and doing 20 - 26 cases per day. When in sedation the nurse is being asked to also do the tech functions too. Sometimes this gets just too crazy to keep up with and also trying to keep a half hour per case schedule. I end up feeling so stressed out that I am thinking of quiting. There are 2 techs that can be called in, but when I do they give me attitude, like I am bothering them. I need to know if this is a typical situation. Is it just me and I need more experience or is this a potential problem?