VS and when to tell your nurse

eatmysoxRN, ASN, RN · Jan 31, 2013

I agree. Many times abnormal vitals aren't reported to me until an hour after they're taken. I'm busy doing all my work and expect abnormals to be reported quickly. Patient safety is primary!

~ No One Can Make You Feel Inferior Without Your Consent -Eleanor Roosevelt ~

CP2013 · Jan 31, 2013

At my old hospital, each nurse didn't have a phone, so it required going from room to room looking for the nurse.

I was the tech who didn't bother. I sat in the room with the patient, called the charge nurse at the desk, asked if it was safe to leave the patient, and only moved to my next patient when the charge said it was okay. (pt has high BP, nurse in med room getting BP med, ok for you to move on)

Luckily I was doing this method. Management liked the idea and yet nothing was ever said to me, aside from my nurses applauding me for caring for the patients and doing what is of utmost priority. It's now mandatory on the unit for the techs. Too many were writing down numbers and moving on without thinking of the consequences.

And if you are able to take accu checks or bedside glucose checks - for the love of all things sweet, if you get a low blood sugar, even in an unsymptomatic patient, give them and orange juice and get the nurse at the bedside. Don't just walk away from Mr. Glucose of 40!