New Rule: No work bags allowed in ER

Specialties Emergency

Published

At work (busy ER) while moving a coworkers bag off the counter in the nursing station, a nurse was cut by a scalpel which was in the bag. Now, my first question was, "Why did she have a scalpel in her bag?" I then wondered, "Why did he have his hand in her bag if he was moving it?" Regardless... moot points to this discussion.

The knee-jerk reaction of our ER Nursing Director was to implement a new rule effective immediately - no nursing bags on the floor. At all. We cannot put them in drawers or in cabinets. They cannot be under desks or out of sight. They cannot be on the floor at all.

I am livid. I have a myriad of resources and tools which I don't need with every single patient but I do need to be able to put my hands on not to mention educational material I keep for cardiac drips, TPA, NIHSS, eye charts, etc. There's no way all of it would fit in my pockets.

Is anyone else facing something as utterly asinine as this at work? I literally don't have time for it.

My everyday is full of ridiculousness.

It does boggle the mind why someone would have an exposed scalpel in their bag, or why anyone else should be reaching into it.

offlabel

1,557 Posts

Tons of apps for that kind of thing and a bag isn't needed.

Specializes in Emergency/Trauma.

Phones are technically prohibited so accessing an app for the info isn't an option. Good idea, though.

offlabel

1,557 Posts

Phones are technically prohibited.

That's dumber than the bag rule.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency, CEN.

I'm confused. I work at an urban level 1 trauma center and don't feel the need to have a bag full of stuff. No one does. There is one guy on the pediatric side of things that has a fanny pack of useful things (stickers, etc) for the smaller kids, but he's the exception rather than the rule.

Julia77

77 Posts

My ED went through a time when bags were discouraged. However, our nurse manager understood that newer nurses often felt more secure with their educational and other supplies available to them, and was understanding of this need. I would also be unhappy with this being enforced. :( Julia

Altra, BSN, RN

6,255 Posts

Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

It's totally not for me to dictate what size bag someone brings to/from work ... but I'm having a hard time picturing "educational resources" that I would be responsible to lug back & forth with me every day.

References on gtts & IV meds? Should be easily, quickly accessible in either binder or electronic form.

Educational materials? If there are references that are considered the "gold standard" in line with your policies ... shouldn't they be accessible to all?

Eye charts?? Is this ED not equipped with a Snellen chart?

Leaving personal belongings in a group work environment is a recipe for a mishap.

K+MgSO4, BSN

1,753 Posts

Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

All these educational resources should be available in your workplace...... As should equipment you require.

Then there's the theft issue if your belongings are not stored securely in a locker provided then the hospital is not responsible for loss of belonging.

The ED in my hospital has lockers on the level above the department. Noone complains

Julius Seizure

1 Article; 2,282 Posts

Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

I would be frustrated if that rule was made. Then again, I also dont have a locker at work so if you told me that I couldnt keep my bag near where I was working.....well then where! Whether you "need" the stuff in the bag or not, its frustrating when rules are made like that over one incident. (rather than addressing "hey how did you get cut with a scalpel in someones bag?")

Editorial Team / Moderator

Lunah, MSN, RN

14 Articles; 13,766 Posts

Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

If you want a resource that fits in a pocket, I love this one: Emergency & Critical Care Pocket Guide: 9781284

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

We don't have bags on our unit because we have a locker room.

Every resource we need is available on our intranet; we also have critical care cards that are pocket size to help remind use what meds we need, in addition to the ring binders of information, resource books throughout the unit and med rings posted near our Pyxis.

There's really no need for extraneous personal supplemental information, at least in my experience.

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