Radiology Techs practicing Nursing?

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The radiology techs at my hospital flush central lines, administer heparin flushes, administer lasix, stop IV pumps and adjust gravity IV drips. The other day I witnessed a medication stash at the receptionist desk, she has PO and Rectal dulcolax in her desk draw to give to out-patients for IVP preps.

We really need to be careful what nursing responsibilities we allow other healthcare providers to perform. I think it weakens our profession and jeopordizes patient safety.

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Specializes in ICU.

Okay so, what are you personally going to do about this??? Is there a body you can complain to such as the board of nursing??? How about a Union?

I am not attacking you here I just feel that we, as nurses need to own the problem and that often means actioning it.

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I would like to know what you find out about radiology techs doing meds, (not the nuclear med isotopes), and their protocols.

I personally have a huge problem with our radiology dept. The techs will unhook pt's from their IVFs to take them to radiology, so they don't have to wheel the pole!!! They have disconnected my pt's from TPN, and abx infusions!!!! They don't flush the peripheral IVs, and if the pts have LR or dextrose, they come back clotted off, and need to be re-stuck. Not only that, but they don't cap the line for the IVF, and it is left hanging on the pole. I have to change the tubing, the fluid bag, PCA, and everything else!!!!!!!!!:angryfire The last draw I had, was a tech who unhooked a pt from the central line, and left the cap of the central line on my IV tubing!! I marched down to xray to find the pt's line "flapping in the wind", open, no cap, and not clamped. (I am surprised she didn't bleed from the line.) I told the tech the dangers of this, as I was yellling, and wrote him up. It is being investigated!!!!!!:angryfire

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I worked for a cardiologist where my job was to do the nuclear stress tests, pushing drugs like persantine and adenosine. We started the IV and pushed the radioactive isotope, then the radiology tech would take the pt. back and do the nuclear scan (pictures) of the heart. In this practice before I came the nurse was out a lot and the radiology tech would actually do the entire stress test, including pushing drugs through IV and reading EKG during testing. I definitely was not comfortable with this practice. My understanding is that a Licensed nurse is supposed to push these drugs. Needless to say, for that reason and many others, I did not work there very long.

Limik

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
The radiology techs at my hospital flush central lines, administer heparin flushes, administer lasix, stop IV pumps and adjust gravity IV drips. The other day I witnessed a medication stash at the receptionist desk, she has PO and Rectal dulcolax in her desk draw to give to out-patients for IVP preps.

We really need to be careful what nursing responsibilities we allow other healthcare providers to perform. I think it weakens our profession and jeopordizes patient safety.

Report it to the state nursing board.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Psych.

When I worked as a Tech 14 years ago, it was a HUGE NO-NO :nono: to touch any lines or equipment. I would definetely follow through with this right away.

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

I had a radiology tech turn off a Flolan Drip. Flolan treats pulmonary hypertension, and sudden withdrawal can cause severe hypotension or death. I had bright signs on the pump stating DO NOT TURN OFF and had all ports on the line taped off. I even had the unit number and my name to call with questions taped to the pump! Luckily the patient had been on Flolan, and she did not have a severe reaction.

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My husband is in his last year of radiology tech, so this thread interests me. He has his clinicals at the same hospital where I have been working over 14 years. As it is, I don't understand why rad techs start out at the same rate as nurses, since they can't have nearly as much liability on them. I'm sure he and I will have interesting conversations along this line - what is and is'nt appropriate to do with IV lines.

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

WHAT !!!! This is crazy! Radiology has no buisness fooling with any lines or pumps. As a matter of fact ,they need to inform the nurse before doing anything with the patient. And giving meds to my patients ..OH NO ...Im afraid my cajun tongue would run a muck.......

The radiology techs at my hospital flush central lines, administer heparin flushes, administer lasix, stop IV pumps and adjust gravity IV drips. The other day I witnessed a medication stash at the receptionist desk, she has PO and Rectal dulcolax in her desk draw to give to out-patients for IVP preps.

We really need to be careful what nursing responsibilities we allow other healthcare providers to perform. I think it weakens our profession and jeopordizes patient safety.

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I have documented my observations and have sent emails to the appropriate supervisors. At this point, only one supervisor has taken actions in regards to the ER transporters. All of my concerns center around teaching the techs 'what they are allowed and not allowed to do'. In my two years working in Radiology, I see that the techs have worked in a place that has been unsupervised by nursing for the past five years (prior to 2002) and they have had to 'survive' by doing things just to get their job done. This means doing some 'nursing-only' tasks. There is also tension between the two professions. Radiology techs naturally do not like "Nurses". I have tried to understand this phenomenon, but can't seem to get a handle on it. I want to make their job easier and safer, but they see me as the "police" who is looking for things they do wrong.

I have made some headway, but it hasn't been easy. I can go on and on about the issues in our Dept. but I will stop here for now.

Thanks, for your response.

Okay so, what are you personally going to do about this??? Is there a body you can complain to such as the board of nursing??? How about a Union?

I am not attacking you here I just feel that we, as nurses need to own the problem and that often means actioning it.

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In my experience rad tachs only concern with nurses is that we have a patent IV for them to inject their medium and we get them to their dept when they're ready (doesn

't matter if we're not ready)

Radiology sends notices to units reminding us we need to place 2 large bore IV's etc prior to their CT, etc. I've had to accompany unstable patients to CT and they hook up these infusers to my IV sites and frequently blow them on the spot with the high pressure. That's why they want 2.. I try to tell them venous access is at frequently at a premium and to be careful, but in most cases they really don't care. Seems like they don't need a nurse to give IV drugs there if they use this fancy 'infusor'.

I do not blame the OP for being concerned and hope you make some headway.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Psych.
There is also tension between the two professions. Radiology techs naturally do not like "Nurses". I have tried to understand this phenomenon, but can't seem to get a handle on it.
My former Radiology Department never had any problem working with Nurses. I greatly admire Nurses which is why I'm in Nursing school!
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