The Social Network & Community JUST for Firefighters
Ambulances and RN's
We are a volunteer BLS service in a small rural town. Our town has a 12 bed Critical Access Hospital that can do basic stabilization only. Generally speaking a patient is going to be transferred if they present to ER with anything more than a minor problem. There have been occasions that the patient required medication (or might require medication) during transit, and on those occasions the hospital has sent an RN with us. Lately we have had an RN on the box with us fairly often. None of the RN's have any kind of EMS license (i.e. they are not EMT's nor Paramedics)
Is this a common practice? Are there any problems we should be aware of by allowing this? Are there any problems the RN's should be aware of?
Is this a common practice? Are there any problems we should be aware of by allowing this? Are there any problems the RN's should be aware of?
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by chele on
-
On our service an EMT-B can monitor an IV with NS running, but we can't if there are any meds in it, such as an antibiotic. As an EMT-I I can start an IV and draw blood. I can not administer drugs nor diagnose (nowhere near as many authorized activities as a National Registry EMT-I)
-
-
Please do not misunderstand me. I have nothing but respect for the nurse that went with us the other day. Although she is not certified for EMS she has had some training related to pre-hospital/emergency care. She is very capable and we have a good working relationship.
-
-
Is your ambulance service hospital based or free-standing? If it is free-standing, how does your hospital feel about paying your wage to go on the runs, or do you donate your time? If you donate your time are you covered by the ambulance insurance or do you carry liability insurance of your own? I know a couple of nurses carry their own here because they work with temp services.
And the part of the patient being technically theirs (the RN's), how does that work? It's my understanding that once a patient is in the care of EMS they are "ours"? We monitor our patients etc, with the nurses basically there for administering the drugs. In most cases the nurses don't even have to do anything.
The nurses and I have had quite a few conversations about roles and order of importance (not really the right word). I'm not great at explaining what I mean. But for instance. We had an RN at an MVA rollover - she rode with us. Her first order of concern was starting an IV, mine was C-spine stabilization. Not a "conflict" per se' because we work well together and we are able to communicate effectively, but there is a nurse that is not nearly so easy to work with. Are there statutes that point to this type of situation, or purely local protocol?
-
Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on
-
OK...here is my 2 cents on this issue....(as I am both a medic and am a Registered nurse)...1st is.... this is NOT prehospital care...this is a medical transport..and yes the nurse has protocols to follow should something "happen" and 2nd...No, If I am on a rig as a transporting nurse I cannot function as a medic...as I am "on the payroll" as a nurse. I have at times transported patients with me, a respiratory therapist and sometimes even a doctor on board....Are you going to tell him he can't do something or order a medication...?? When a transport nurse goes on a road-trip we have orders to follow to cover most situations including procedures and medications....and yes dispite some rumors we are trained quite well....Now I wouldn't want and might even tell a nurse to take a hike at an accident scene or a firescene...they don't belong there and most would offer to help but would not get into prehospital care unless asked...Stay safe take care and remember to Keep the Faith..........Paul
-
-
Excuse me.......? What is this "She" comment....?? LOL Many of the Nurses today are men.....and not with " alternate lifestyles"....LOL
-
-
OOPS....a little S.N.A.F.U. here....EMT's and Paramedics do NOT have liscenses....they are "certified".....Doctors, Nurses have liscenses...( I know, mine costs me $ 125.00 every 2 years).....Sorry to be a stickler...but thats me....LOL Stay safe all..........Paul
-
Permalink Reply by Joe Stoltz on
-
Sorry Anne, I was speaking of an EMT-B alone on a rig in a prehospital setting. The IV lock would have been started by an I/CC/P medic at the treatment sector of a mass casualty incident.
-
-
LOL...Hey I was just razing you a little.....Smile.....OK..? Stay safe......Paul
-
-
OK. Medical Transport. You are paid by the hospital that sent you? What protocols do you have? Are they specific to the patient and are they in writing, such as on the transfer papers, or are they a broad spectrum protocol?
I have never asked a nurse to function as a medic, the RN is there specifically to administer drugs. For instance, if we have a code it is up to the techs to deal with the CPR etc. The RN can call for medical control and direction as to adminsitering drugs. I would never presume to tell an RN they can't do something, as long as I know they have a directive. I would discourage an RN from treating without consulting medical control unless they have specific orders to treat.
I would not tell an RN to take a hike on scene, but I do expect them to be willing to do things the "EMS way" and not the "hospital way". Our RN's volunteer to go to the scene fairly often.
-
Permalink Reply by Oldman on
-
They are within the scope of their license. They are covered just as if they were on the floor of the hospital.
- ‹ Previous
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- Next ›
© 2024 Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief.
Powered by
