Dispute at work tonight

[PedsNurse1981]

There's a dispute going on at work tonight, it's kinda silly, but I want to get everyone's thoughts and opinions on the subject.

Is it JCAHO policy that nurses aren't allowed to have drinks at the desks or is it strictly hospital policy?

What is your experience?

[casper1]

We arn't supposed to have drinks at the Nurses station. At times I resent this since we rarely have time to take a break and lunch is a luxury. Nuses are not allowed to have coffe or soda at the nurses station but no one stops the residents or the doctors. I guess their immune from Jcaho

[RMA]

Technically we're not supposed to have drinks at the nusring station but its not enforced. As far as it being a JACO rule--- I have no Idea.

[KMSRN]

I believe it is OSHA - Occupation Safely and Health Administration (?). It is supposedly to protect the workers although they are often a PIA.

[barb4575]

...is an OSHA requirement.

[RN-PA, RN]

I have no idea who states no drinks at the nurses' station. I just know our hospital forbids it, although I sometimes see drinks sitting on the desks later during my 3-11 shift and 11-7 when the "suits" aren't around. But there was a BIG stink a couple of months ago when someone spilled a drink onto a computer and ruined it. So our manager is always on the lookout. In fact, there was a rumor last Friday that the NM removed coffee from all the kitchens because she'd found empty coffee cups in the trash cans at the nurses' stations. But there was coffee available when I worked this past week, so I'm not sure what happened. (There would be a mutiny on 11-7 if they didn't have coffee... )

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

I think it's more of a safety issue in that you can't have drinks or things like lip gloss in the same area that would have blood and body fluids.

JCAHO is online at http://www.jcaho.org/

OSHA says:

Eating, drinking, smoking, applying cosmetics or lip balm, and handling contact lenses are prohibited in work areas where there is a reasonable likelihood of occupational exposure.

1910.1030(d)(2)(x)

Food and drink shall not be kept in refrigerators, freezers, shelves, cabinets or on countertops or benchtops where blood or other potentially infectious materials are present.

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10051

[zenman]

I knew a nurse once that always had a coke can in her hand. Found out later that the coke was "diluted" with Rum. One way to relieve stress, I guess!

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I remember the "good ole days," long ago and far away when we kept our CABGs intubated overnight. We had six of them in a ward, and every night you'd find the nurses for all six patients sitting 'round the table in the middle of the room, watching "Acapulco Gold" or "Baywatch" on the patients' TV and eating dinner at 0100. The patients, of course, were snowed.

[Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN]

In our facility, drinks aren't allowed at nurses' stations.

[Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN]

In our facility, drinks aren't allowed at nurses' stations.

[KristinWW]

JCAHO just visited our facility a few months ago and we were warned several time absolutely NO food or drink at the station! Do you know how difficult it is to do 11p - 7a with no coffee??

We received a 100 rating, FWIW :)

[KristinWW]

JCAHO just visited our facility a few months ago and we were warned several time absolutely NO food or drink at the station! Do you know how difficult it is to do 11p - 7a with no coffee??

We received a 100 rating, FWIW :)