Antiquated Equipment

[abbaking]

I work in Oncology-Medical-Surgical, been there for 4 years. I like my job alot but lately I am stressed out big time because of our units' lack of updated patient equipment. For example, our blood pressure machines are VERY old and constantly breaking down. Either the battery is dead (Dead as in D-E-A-D), the o2 sat leads are malfunctioning, or there are missing parts. I waste a great deal of my time hunting down for an appropriate machine only to find that it is broken in some way. And the few remaining excellant working machines are being used in Isolation rooms!!! In my opinion, put the good working BP machines on the floor and stuff the antiquated machines in Iso Room!

[november17, ASN, RN]

We aren't allowed to use machines in our ISO rooms. Only disposable equipment. As far getting new stuff, times are tough all over and I think budgets are pretty small in general. Thanks medicaid/medicare!

[makes needs known]

I see equipment problems where I work too. The other night I needed to get a CPM machine for a new resident who had had a knee replacement. I went to storage and dragged a very heavy machine out of a box and started to put the pads on it. Then I noticed there was a paper sign on it that said it was broken. I was mad, I plugged it in and it worked, but the sensor pad was damaged. I had no other machine and this lady needed to use it. She used it but we monitored it carefully and no problems. But what the heck! How are we suppose to take care of patients when everything we have to work with is not in working condition. Sometimes it seems the more we notice about the inadequacies of healthcare the more its our fault. How do we fix these problems without sounding like complaining women?

Oh and the Cpm machine. There was a silver tag on it indicating that it had last been inspected several years ago and it was suppose to be checked a year from that date. If these machines are supposed to inspected every year, why aren't they?

[onetiredmomma]

I too find if annoying to have to look for parts to make up a usuable machine. It is VERY annoying to find anything stuffed into a closet or storage room with a note "doesn't work" on it.........send it to be fixed for crimmeny sakes!