Dear Janet
For practical reasons the only staff available to carryout blood gases in
our A&E and Admissions ward were nursing assistants. The blood gas analysers
were off site and they were the only group who could be spared to leave the
department. I set up a training programme for them and they have
successfully carried out testing for two years. They were given on going
retraining every three months initially but this was eventually cut to six.
I suppose the retraining session are essential in maintaining their skills
but once they feel confident with the procedure they are accomplished
testers. My experience in working with this group has been interesting.
Unlike medical staff and to some extent registered nurses they carry out the
procedure exactly as instructed, never leave the test area without clearing
up and alert the department if they have problems. The question of state
registration was not a problem. The ward sister / directorate accepted
responsibility for them to carry out testing, in the same way as is the case
with blood glucose monitoring, after I had authorised them as
trained/competent. I just wonder refering to your point about clinical
awareness how many registered nurses and junior docs understand the meaning
of blood gas reports. I run training sessions for junior docs as well at
induction and their lack of understanding is a bit scarey. So don't be too
hard on the poor NA's.
Regards
Derek
-----Original Message-----
From: Janice Still [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 10 September 2002 10:22
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Blood gas analysis
I apologise for the last garbled posting - my computer
is having one of it's uncooperative days!
We have received a request from our HDu and ITU to
train healthcare assistants to perform blood gases,
due to nursing shortages. This was vetoed by our NPT
Committee on grounds of lack of clinical awareness of
pre and post analytical factors, and because HCAs are
not state registrered and do not have liability cover.
I would be interested in hearing from anyone who does
allow HCAs to do blood gases - what training do they
receive and what safeguards are in place?
Hope it doesn't garble this. If anyone knows WHY it
does it and how to stop it, please let me know.
Jan
=====
<P>Mrs. Jan Still,</P>
<P>POCT Manager,</P>
<P>Watford General Hospital,</P>
<P>Watford, Herts.</P>
<P>WD18 0HB Tel - 01923-217998.</P>
<P>The views expressed in this document are entirely personal and do not
reflect the official policy of West Herts NHS Hospitals Trust.</P>
<P> </P>
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