Patient care cart

Nurses General Nursing

Published

We are going to be starting a patient care/concierge cart for our hospital that will be passed to patient's daily by one of our CNA's to help improve patient satisfaction. We will have: lip balm, tissues, ear plugs, hand sanitizer, wash cloths, bottled water, toothbrushes, toothpaste,mouthwash, deoderant, no fall socks, combs, razors, shaving cream, gum, mints, prayer cards etc. I am looking for ideas for other items that your hospital provides or any advice that you have. Thank you!

Fentanyl pops, that'll make 'em happy.

Or a candy dish full of percs, Vicoden and oxy.

I'm confused. Are these freebies? A lot of them sound like they should be part of the floor stock of things that get given out FREE to pts on admission or as needed (like anti-skid socks). Or don't they give these things out at hosps anmore?Maybe it's just me, but I see abuse by greedy pts (like how many anti-skid socks are needed or how many lip balms?) Well, let's get some for all the grand-kiddos ...
Where I work nothing is handed out free....non slip socks, lip balm, wipes.....everything is charged to the patient. One thing they do provide is free cable television, but that used to be charged to the patient also.
Specializes in None yet..
Fentanyl pops, that'll make 'em happy.

...or change someone's sobriety date!

:eek:

Maybe it's just the jaded part of me that's thinking this, but it looks like you're one step closer to waitressing, or maybe being a flight attendant, than you already are...? People think of nurses as glorified Pillow Fluffers and Blanket-Fetchers much of the time, anyway, so.....why not complete the image and have us pushing carts of puzzle books and mints around? :rolleyes:

Hearing aid batteries and denture paste. I like the pencil and paper idea, as we're always encouraging patients and families to make lists of things to talk to rounding docs about.

Nail clippers or nail files. If they aren't a bleeding risk of course!

Make the mints sugar-free, or all your diabetics will start spiking right after the hospitality cart passes through-- and make sure the people who push the carts know what the NPO sign over the bed means. Or maybe don't have anything that can be eaten on there at all.

Since I mention it, have them watch out for the folks that EAT razors, etc.

And make sure the budget is there for replacement for all of it-- the cards, the Sudoku books, etc., since they will all walk.

Our pink ladies used to have a book cart-- people would donate hard- and paper-cover books for people to read. Maybe a few of those would be nice.

I have to caution about the sugar free mints - All the sugar-free mints I have seen are sweetened with sorbitol. Sorbitol is a sugar alchohol that can be used as an artificial sweetener or a LAXATIVE.

Some people are more sensitive to it's laxative effect than others.

It's hyperosmotic properties makes it good for treating dry mouth.

My dentist suggested I eat sugar free mints when I have dry mouth. No one should have to clean up what I did after I had 2 mints.

I do like the idea of mints or some other hard candy. I was a patient in a hospital over Easter one year. A family who had lost a loved one on that floor got permission to give gift bags to every patient on the floor on Easter. (It was so nice to have the "Easter Bunny" (i.e. my nurse) bring in a Easter bag.) The thing I liked best was some sour lemon hard candy. Often the meds they give you alter your sense of taste. Everything but that lemon candy tasted awful.

Consider adding a newspaper.

I have to caution about the sugar free mints - All the sugar-free mints I have seen are sweetened with sorbitol. Sorbitol is a sugar alchohol that can be used as an artificial sweetener or a LAXATIVE.

Some people are more sensitive to it's laxative effect than others..........

Consider adding a newspaper.

ROFL, I just had a warped image of using that newspaper after your fairly vivid description of the Laxative Mints....!! Brought a littler of puppies to mind :)

ROFL, I just had a warped image of using that newspaper after your fairly vivid description of the Laxative Mints....!! Brought a littler of puppies to mind :)

LOL - Now I have that warped image in my head!

Specializes in Inpatient Oncology/Public Health.
Maybe it's just the jaded part of me that's thinking this, but it looks like you're one step closer to waitressing, or maybe being a flight attendant, than you already are...? People think of nurses as glorified Pillow Fluffers and Blanket-Fetchers much of the time, anyway, so.....why not complete the image and have us pushing carts of puzzle books and mints around? :rolleyes:

Yep, and continuing the "hospital as hotel" image too.

+ Add a Comment