Techs checking O2 sats

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Why can't techs check O2 sats? This is the case at all facilities I've done clinicals in as well as the facility where I currently work. Is it a state BON thing that varies from state to state? I've checked my state's BON website and can't find any reference to it.

Just curious, is all.

Thanks!

Specializes in ER, ICU,.

We are trying to get techs to stop taking sats. we have noticed they will say pt is on 2 lpm for every patient...even when on non rebreather. or room air. The hosp does not get paid when techs do it. Respiratory gets paid to do it.

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this is one of those 'requires intervention debates'.

According to my nursing leadership books, techs aren't even technically supposed to do vital signs, it reserves that responsibility to lpn/lvn. Techs are only supposed to assist with ADLs.

One hospital in my town has techs do Blood glucose, the other doesn't. The rationale behind it is that a BG requires an intervention. well, so do vital signs and o2 sats, and all that other stuff.

Its hard to see where they would draw the line.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I work in a clinic, but it happens by default because when the techs take vitals with the electronic machine, the only way to obtain a pulse is with the same O2 stat. And, we tell them the same, inform us if it is below 95%. Not sure about the other services/departments, though.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

It doesn't require a degree and a license to collect data. Annual skill competency evaluations and clear parameters makes this a non-issue for any hospital I've ever worked at.

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They always get them at the nursing home where I work.

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Specializes in CNA in OB,ER,ICU,MS.

I work in rural hosp in MO as a PCT ( CNA) and we are allowed to get O2sats along w/ blood sugars, vs, I & O. I work in OB/Nursery, so I'm allowed to do all the above on moms and babes. All my RN's know that I am the first to come get them if something isn't right or if the pt just doesn't look right. Its kind of funny, whenever we get a new RN, the RNs I have worked w/ for yrs always tell them, If ____ yells you better run to find her, because she only yells your name or help if she needs to! Its nice to know that the RNs and LPNs I work w/ trust me.

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this is one of those 'requires intervention debates'.

vital signs, it reserves that responsibility to lpn/lvn. Techs are only supposed to assist with ADLs.

I see. And what about hospitals that don't have LPNs? We don't. This whole discussion annoys me. Techs are allowed to do blood sugars, which is a mildly invasive procedure, yet they can't stick a clip on someone's finger and write down the number the machine says? It's not an assessment, it's collection of data.

If the techs are not doing ti correctly (ie they are always recording 2L NC), then they need to be retrained, and if they still can't do it right, they need to be let go. Sorry, but if you can't even do a simple thing like read a number, I don't want you taking care of me.

This whole thing is stupid, because why even have techs? If they are going to keep heaping all this stuff on the RN (which it seems like there is something new every day) then just give me fewer pts and let me do it all myself.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Transplant, Education.

I'm a tech on a complex medical/tele unit & O2 sats are part of our vital signs. If it's low, you inform the nurse. If it's a COPDer or other pulm patient with chronic low sats, the person is hooked up to continuous sat monitoring with pre-set parameters. (Just as if an a-fibber or other cardiac pt is on tele)

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

we're allowed to get them, but we can't place anyone on O2 or actually chart them....you know, because we don't know what we're doing!

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Maybe you should find out who made the rule and question their rationale. o2 sats are a vital sign. If they pca's have parameters with which they need to report a low one, then it is thier responsibiltiy to report it. All they are doing is collecting data. We used to let the pca's check bs but it got to where they got busy and forgot to report it or they would check them 1 hr before meals and since we are mainly diabetic floor we as a nursing commitee decided that nurses should check the bs because the insulin a pt might get needs to be based on a bs gotten in the last 30 minutes.

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

See, I can understand techs not being able to do anything to correct a o2 sat...i.e. put o2 on, etc....however, just getting the number is not a problem...I always wait for 15 secs after I put on the clip, then I try another finger on the OTHER hand...then, I make sure the hands aren't freezing....then I tell the nurse....it works so much easier that way...

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Specializes in ER, ICU,.

I think its a training thing. If trained properly to do it and properly how to record it. Then techs can do it. But if techs are charting 2 lpm on NRB or RA, then there is a problem.

Just the other day I was attempting to wean O2 and the tech kept turning it back up. He said "but he was on 4 lpm when I came on shift, he has to stay on that". after the 3rd time of going in the room and finding the O2 back up I had to ugly.

And, techs cant put them on O2 because it is a drug. Thats the only reason. And, if there is no order for O2 hosp dont get paid.

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