Tele/IMC/Med-Surg Agency question

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For those of you who do Med-Surg-- if your agency sent you to a tele/IMC or Short-Stay unit where everyone is on a cardiac monitor, would you demand to be paid the Tele/IMC rate for that unit vs. a basis med-surg rate?

Heres whats happening to me-- I am a med-surg/L+D nurse, with MINIMAL tele experience (I DO NOT feel competent at this point in time caring for someone on tele nor do I have ACLS)....Im doing prn at one particular hospital and when they have a need help in the IMC/Tele or SSU, staffing will ask if I want to go but that the charge RN hold my tele-beeper and watch the monitor for me, so Im basically only doing the 'med-surg' care for the patient. So its like I get cancelled or go work on one of these units....

I have done this twice but Im STILL watching my own monitor although the charge RN is documenting on my strip, I still feel its my patient, my liscense and I am responsible for whats going and I have to wonder how much the charge RN is truely paying attention!! These patients are also much more acute- on heparin/amiodarine drips, blood transfusions, yesterday I got someone fresh out of the ICU with a trach/peg/etc....

I think my agency should be paying me the rate for these units because I feel im doing much more than just basic med-surg.... OPINIONS????

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Specializes in critical care, med surg, correctional.

I would think since you are not actually doing the "tele" responsibility, the agency would give you a hard time to give you the increased rate....but I would be more concerned with legally being that patients care giver....where do you stand legally if the charge nurse did not respond correctly to a rhythm on the monitor?? I would check with the agency regarding this, more importantly than the hourly wage...

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Specializes in ED.

YES.........If you go to Tele DEMAND the speciality Pay. They obviously think you are qualified!

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I have to wonder about these agencies. I agree with Brady , if tele is not your speciality why are you being sent to tele? are YOU comfortable with tele, can your read the strips. I wouldn't depend on someone else to read my strips- if something happens- you are the one who will take the fall, especially being agency.=-we are the blame for all evil even if we weren't in the building. I am a tele nurse with ACLS (I also work staff per deim in a Speciality- heart hospital- all our patients are tele) inspite of this the only place my agency seems to want to book me for is LTC- go figure. the agency has done me out of alot of opportunities. I would be more concerned with the legal responsibility in an area not my speciality. Just a thought

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