Is this Safe? Census: 45 / ID Bands: 0 / # of Nurses: 1

[carriebarton59]

Is this Safe? Census: 45 ID Bands: 0 Nurses: 1

I started a Per Diem RN position and was surprised to learn that none of the patients wear ID Bands. The accepted method of patient identification for medication administration is (1) a Photograph from the Med Pass Book (no computers here) or (2) to "ask the aides" who is who.

The most prevalent diagnosis in this population is dimentia and many patients cannot tell you their own names. So I'm wandering through the dining room with a photo in one hand and medication in the other. Or, after dinner, I'm trying to identify patients as they wander through the hallways. The Med Pass typically takes the seasoned nurses on this floor from 6 to 7 hours.

When I asked why the patients wear no ID Bands I was told that it had nothing to do with HIPPA but rather, it is a matter of "Patient Dignity" and that the bands get wet in the shower.

Eventually I will get to know all the patients but in the meantime, is this safe? And, is it standard practice?

[nancysymonsblod]

I am an RN who has been in long term care for over 35 years. I love LTC and I agree. If someone puts an ID band on me i will kick u also. Do u walk around your house with a name tag? The facility is their home and we are a part of their family. The key is knowing your residents. If you dont you have no business working there. When i have been new to a facility i have asked the CNAs if the resident isnt oriented. The CNAs can tell you more than u will ever need to know. They are my eyes n my ears. They are what makes an incredible nurse

[Starkrav]

If I were in your situation I would ask for additional orientation. Explain that you cannot safely identify every resident using the facility's ID system, and that you do not feel comfortable passing medications on your own until you become familiar with the residents. It doesn't take that long to learn everyone's name. A new nurse should NOT be expected to ID residents based on an outdated photo. And I personally would be very nervous accepting an ID from a CNA I barely know.

Also, who says an ID tag has to be plastic/paper/unattractive? People voluntarily wear metal ID tags for diabetes, drug allergies, and the like. Why is it so unreasonable to ask a long-term care facility to provide a metal tag for safety? Oh I know, very few facilities would actually be willing to pay for those... Also I understand the concern of ID bands getting mixed up, but it would be easy to do periodic audits to ensure each resident is correctly identified.

[VANurse2010]

I think there's this false equivalency here that because some bands *may* get switched, that the entire system is worthless. Utter baloney, in my opinion.

[benegesserit]

We had an incident recently where a resident got the wrong meds. New nurse asked an aide to identify a resident. The aide pointed in the general direction of the resident. She was sitting at a table with a few other people. The nurse looked at the pictures in the book, went to the wrong resident, and asked if she was so-and-so. This resident is sweet and cooperative and will pretty much smile and nod at anything. So she got the wrong meds.

We were wondering how this could have happened, as the two women don't really look anything alike. Then we looked in the med book - their pictures looked very similar.

No bad outcome, thankfully.