Day

Present: Sunny A., Chris C., Frank M., Sue P., Liz O., Hector R., Jordan P., Theresa C., Lucy M.

UA Role:

• Linen may not always be first priority for the day.  Please check that supplies are available for the nursing staff and fill out CSD and special order forms.
• Carry Phone only No UA s to carry a beeper.  The method for reaching the UA is through the phone only.  When you arrive at work, please put your name on the white board of the unit as well as the phone number.  If you happen to be covering two units this needs to be done on each unit.  This is for proper communication among the team.  This should be completed no later than 8am.
• Ordering – Review store room for supplies. There is a small white board in the store rooms.  If you notice low levels of a particular supplies and it is not a delivery day, the storeroom needs to be notified.  If it is a delivery day, the list will need to be reconciled against the delivery.
• Breakfast delivery and pick up needs to be timely.
• Room Carts – This may require filling more than once per day given the needs of the patients.  Empty rooms need to have carts stocked.  These rooms will have patients and should be ready and properly supplied.
• 24 Hour sheets these sheets are faxed to payroll each day.  If you float, you need to notify the unit to which you floated.  If you are working on more than one unit, you need to indicate that you are working the other units as well.  This is for charging purposes.  The previous charge nurse should be aware of the need to float a UA for a shift.

Unit Secretaries

• Faxing 24 hours sheet – This needs to be faxed daily and noted if faxed.  There is a stamp on each unit.
• Phone – please use proper identification when answering the phone
• Call lights -The nurses need to be notified when call light assistance is requested by the patient.
• Desk coverage – the Secretary desk needs to be covered during rounding time
• Communication – each handoff should consist of what has been done for the day and any outlying tasks.  Please let the RN charge know when you are not going to be at the desk.
• Breaks are no more than two 15 minute breaks during the shift and 30 minutes for lunch.  These cannot be combined.  Extended breaks will not be tolerated.

Additional discussion:

• EKG strips need to be faxed for the previous day.  Do not batch scan
• The food order needs to be placed before 2pm.  This is still not happening consistently
• There has been a lot of change over the past 6 months in the role and hours of the UA and it is essential that everyone is on board for the common goal, working together to provide for our patients.
• We will meet quarterly.  Our next meeting will be in August.  Time and date TBD.  Nursing is invited to attend

Respectfully Submitted,

Paula Gellner MS, RN

Clinical Manager CTIC, ICTU

Rhode Island Hospital

Paula.Gellner@lifespan.org

O (401) 444-5992

C (401) 533-4362