TUGs...Anyone have experience with these???

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Specializes in LTC/rehab, ED, med-surg.

I'm currently in nursing orientation (new grad here!) and have heard about the "TUGs" several times now....I haven't been oriented to the floor I will be working on yet, but I know they utilize one of these little guys to track and dispense medication.

I was wondering...do any of y'all have experience with TUGs, and if so, what are they used for at your facility? Do they make your job easier?

If you have no clue what I'm referring to, here's a few links:

http://www.nursezone.com/job/DevicesandTechnology.asp?articleID=16163&page=On+the+job&profile=Devices+%26+technology&headline=TUGs+Let+Nurses+Spend+More+Time+at+the+Bedside%09

Nurses at several hospitals have a new helpmate--one that picks up medications at the pharmacy, takes specimens to the lab or brings up instruments from central supply 24 hours a day, seven days a week without complaint. Called a TUG, the robotic device tools around a facility delivering supplies and docking for recharging when its work is done.

http://www.healthcareitnews.com/story.cms?id=7803

http://www.ihealthbeat.org/articles/2006/8/15/Florida-Hospital-Utilizes-Robots.aspx

Looking forward to hearing your replies!

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Peds/O.R./Legal/cardiology.

NO!! The only TUG I ever got was when some patient was pulling on my butt and yelling "NURSE!":lol2:

ebear

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

The last hospital I worked for used three of them to deliver medications to pt floors. They were supposed to replace 4 FTEs in pharmacy, but cost about 2 million to get. They were always freaking out people in the hall and getting stuck on the elevators.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Tele, ER.

LOL I had no idea there was such a thing!

:devil: And I thought the tube system was fun to mess with ... one can just imagine the possibilities...:devil:

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The last hospital I worked for used three of them to deliver medications to pt floors. They were supposed to replace 4 FTEs in pharmacy, but cost about 2 million to get. They were always freaking out people in the hall and getting stuck on the elevators.

I had to laugh when I read this. What a waste of money!

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Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

Out hospital operated one for a several years but I haven't seen him out for a while. Often he was found banging up against a doorway or wall repeatedly asking an unmovable object to "please stand clear". Sad really- you just wanted to take him by his little invisible robot hand and lead him home. He made great press and kids got a kick out of jumping in front of him and making him move around them but all-in-all he was just an expensive novelty. I feel the hospital would have been better served to hire 5 or 6 human beings to do the job better for less cost.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PACU.
Out hospital operated one for a several years but I haven't seen him out for a while. Often he was found banging up against a doorway or wall repeatedly asking an unmovable object to "please stand clear". Sad really- you just wanted to take him by his little invisible robot hand and lead him home.

:lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2:

Do you think that, maybe, they also "replaced" the human worker who's job was to plug him in to recharge?????

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