Working Without UAPs

loriangel14, RN · Oct 4, 2016

I have worked in settings with them and without them. What part makes you uncomfortable ?

Sour Lemon · Oct 4, 2016

It's GREAT if RN staffing is adjusted accordingly.

JohnJoeJ · Oct 4, 2016

These kids are really sick and are prone to crashing without any warning...just feel if I'm busy doing tasks like restocking or logging in breast milk, something will get missed. Also, anything that adds to increased RN stress levels can only impact retention.

JohnJoeJ · Oct 4, 2016

I just don't think that's in the cards...this is being done for budget concerns.

Sour Lemon · Oct 4, 2016

These kids are really sick and are prone to crashing without any warning...just feel if I'm busy doing tasks like restocking or logging in breast milk, something will get missed. Also, anything that adds to increased RN stress levels can only impact retention.

Again, it all depends on staffing levels and whether or not they're adjusted accordingly. I love having all RNs in med/surg when we have three patients each. I'm still busy, I just spend more time with fewer patients. I have time to help the other nurses and they have time to help me. We're typically all on the same page as far as prioritization goes. It's breezy.

Whether you're "stocking" or spending time with "patient B", you are still away from "patient A". The tasks don't matter ....just that you have a reasonable amount of things to do for the time you have to work with.

Sour Lemon · Oct 4, 2016

I just don't think that's in the cards...this is being done for budget concerns.

If you hit the quote button in the lower right corner before responding, people will know what you are responding to. If this is in response to my staffing comments, I understand why you're worried.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Oct 11, 2016

In 39 years, I've only had one job where we have UAPs. And in PICU- I don't see where there is much that they CAN do.

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Oct 11, 2016

We don't use them in any of our ICUs. Just like anything else, you just build those things into your daily schedule.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Oct 11, 2016

Sometimes we get one, sometimes we don't. I'm most often without one, so I guess it's not a big deal to me. If we have one, they are spread thin throughout the unit so I can't count on them.

It's fine really. I still do all the work, they may just assist me with a bath and turning. It's not like they are assigned to rooms or anything.

Cricket183, BSN, RN · Oct 12, 2016

I've worked with and without UAPs. My only experience is working on an inpatient oncology unit so my opinion may be skewed in that direction. It is nearly impossible to effectively take care of patients without the help of UAPs even with a lower nurse-patient ratio. On days our typical ratio was 3-5 patients/NOCs 6-8 patients (depending on acuity). We tried a very brief experiment where they changed the staffing matrix to included just nurses providing total patient care with no CNAs. Our patient complaints went through the roof as did our staff dissatisfaction. The main problem is there was such a large number of patients receiving chemo and/or blood products that it required the primary nurse (and/or charge nurse) to be in the patients room for at least the first 15 minutes of the infusion (sometimes 30 minutes depending on the chemo agent or regime) it just wasn't practical to leave the remaining patients without anyone to attend to their needs.

Calalilynurse · Oct 21, 2016

I work one a small pediatric unit and we don't have them. I personally would rather have an extra nurse. I previously worked at ab oarge hospital with no UAP's after 11 and most weekends. Even though the unit could afford it because the manager claimed we were getting an extra nurse.