This is just a vent,but I am sooo frustrated
It seems we have more confused people than ever who require bed alarms. They cannot,or will not, use the call lights. So when their alarm goes off, we LITERALLY RUN to their room in the hopes of catching them as they are getting out of bed We before they fall.
Q 1 hour room checks are not going to change this. Some of these people have no idea why they are getting up. It doesn't matter if they were up five minutes ago. But they are a risk to themselves, and we are responsible for it.
The thing that makes me angry, is that if I have a pt on drips,or am in the middle of passing meds, or doing some kind of task, I have to STOP right there and run out of the room. We are getting dinged bigtime for anyone falling- even if they just slide or are helped to the floor( even if there are mats)It's one thing if it's a pt or two. But lately, we could literally have half or more of teh floor on the alarms.We all run like chickens with our heads cut off. It seems the alarms are more important than the sicker patients!!!
ok I'm done ranting. Just feel that I am danged if I do or danged if idont.
what do dementia units do?? roll the pts in bubble wrap? ughh.