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Interfacing with RNs/RTs

• 50% of our job is clinical; the other 50% is communication. This is communication with the docs, the patients, the patient’s family, and most importantly, the nurses and RTs.

• A good nurse will not blindly perform an order. They will want to know why. Let them know, especially if the order is unique (i.e. zyprexa for nausea).

• Nurses/RTs are often very busy, so they don’t always check their new orders. If you can call them/go up to them and let them know you placed the order.

• There’s a good reading somewhere in the FOAM world about communication between APPs, MDs, nurses. It’s all about how we all speak a different “language” when we are concerned. While more experienced providers may use formal language, newer providers (esp those who are nervous) are much more vague about that concern. For example, a nurse may call you and tell you “Mr. Smiths heart rate is 110, sinus tach.” with a tinge of nervousness. While you may laugh at how “dumb” they are being, in reality, they are trying to tell you - “I am concerned”. In reality, Mr. Smith may be breathing 30 times a minute and diaphoretic. So it is very important to treat the concerns of a worried nurse/RT/APP/MD as valid until you have objective data to prove otherwise (e.g. “What is Mr. Smiths blood pressure? Is he having any symptoms? How does he look?”).