Labeling preps???

[scrubnurse]

Okay, I TOTALLY get and agree that all meds need to labeled on the field. And even all fluids are labeled (NS, sterile water, etc). We have also been instructed to write on the label the expiration date and your initials. Okay, seems extreme since we keep the bottle on the desk, but I'll go along with it. But now we have just been told we have to label our prep set before we prep, so as to not get the scrub and the paint mixed up?!? Even though I pour the bottle two seconds before prepping the patient, I am supposed to stop, write out labels for the preps, and then continue on with the prepping of the patient. When asked if we could just leave the small sterile bottle of scrub or paint next to that container, we were told no, it must be a "label". We were told that anytime we had two solutions we must label them, even if it is betadine paint and sterile water. Anyone else share this policy? Things just seem to be getting more and more ridiculous. :smackingf

[summerk]

I think that if labeling the prep is that big of a deal a marker and labels would be included in the kit. Who's great idea was this? I do not have the time to make out labels for my prep that only I am going to use 5 seconds later. A chlorhexidine prep and IVP contrast that is going to sit on the same prep table (although I have no idea why the prep would be sitting with the dye), I can understand the need for labels....but not for regular preps.

[scrubnurse]

Thanks to all that have responded. For a while there, I thought I was the crazy one. Anyway, I think our management is carrying things a bit far with the labeling of the prep. As the pp stated, if I can't remember what I just poured 2 seconds ago, kick me out of the OR! On a side note, this is also the same management that thought personal scrubs are a wonderful idea, so now we are all wearing our own scrubs in from home, and carrying who knows what home to our families. :angryfire

Sometimes I think management forgets what it is like to be inside an actual operating room.

[SFCardiacRN]

At first glance, it seems silly to label preps. We have special prep kits and all that. Though my hospital doesn't require it and I am not doing it, Marie may be right on this! As Eric mentioned, a patient died from a chlorhexadine injection and it has happened again in CA. And it really will not take that long. In fact, I think I'll have our custom pack assembler start putting labels in the prep kits.

[OR male nurse]

Since I last replied to this post, we have changed the policy at our hospital. Everything that is poured out of it's original container has to be labeled. PREPS INCLUDED. So now, we simply open our prep on the prep stand and wheel it over to the surgical tech who has to make out labels and place it on our prep tray.

I guess if it's the law of the land.. so be it. It doesn't seem to cost any more as the RN doesn't have to open a pair of sterile gloves and/or a marking pen and labels. It just goes against the doctrine of "common sense should prevail."

It's kind of funny that after I posted my original reply to this forum we had a "safety fair" at our hospital and labeling was one of the displays. It showed how somewhere at some hospital some patient was injected with Hibiclens and that's what started all of this. How in the heck can you draw up Hibiclens from a prep stand and inject it into the patient?

In the interest of patient safety and my oath to be the patient advocate, I will comply with this, but it still seems silly.

My .02

[Loni]

I understand your question about the prep and I agree that it is a little much to have to label paint and scrub immediatly before you use it. That is just going overboard in my opinion. However, it has become our policy as well and there is not a thing we can do about it. Just grin and bear it, dear. There are so many more stressful things to worry about !

[elcue]

I think this is going way too far. I've never seen this. The solutions are poured immediately before use, the bottles are right there, and we wrap up and discard the whole tray immediately when finished.

I agree - Give Me A Break!!

[lindaloo51]

I think that it's time to call on the providers of the prep kits to provide labels for the kits. We use 3 prep kits one with betadine scrub sponges and paint sticks, duraprep, and a dry prep that can be used with hibiclens, alcohol phisohex etc. They could pack stickers with the dry prep for potential solutions that would work probably 99.9% of the time. Solve our problem and fulfil our requirements.