BAD NURSING HABBITS

[cincin1222]

Hello,

Today at clinicals I was asked to do a acue check sorry to check patient's b/s for one of the nurses, I got the machine but she did not provide me with any alcohols swipe nor any cotton gauze she told me to just go in and do it, I was shock how she is so careless about this or am I over reacting.

[mermcm83]

No, you are absolutely right....that is gross and unsafe!

[Mike R, ADN, BSN, RN]

Is your RN/instructor/preceptor expected to do all the work for you? Alcohol and 2x2's are among the things I always carry in my pockets. I personally think you might be over reacting.

If someone told you to bathe a patient and only handed you a single wash cloth, would you not take initiative to gather the rest of the supplies?

Or is there more to this story that were missing?

[cincin1222]

I'm sorry but yes I did asked for the alcohol swipe and cotton gauze she told me I don't needed just use napking because she can't get those things right now but I made sure I put on some gloves and went and look for the alcohol swipes and cotton gauze

[Mike R, ADN, BSN, RN]

That makes more sense. If that's the case, then that's very bad practice. I hope you took the time and gathered the necessary supplies despite what your RN told you. Despite the obvious risk for infection for the patient, the patient could easily report you to your instructor. Just cover your own back at all times.

Like I said earlier: carry some alcohol, 2x2 gauze and some disposable gloves in your size at all times in clinical. You never know when you'll need it.

[4_Sq]

Dear cincin1222

You are a student, yes, but lead by example.

You know that you were using the correct technique, so just go ahead, and

practice the best technique you know, perhaps the RN will learn from your

example.. Keep up the good work (forever)

You will meet exceptional nurses, and not so exceptional nurses in your career.

Always be the best!!!:stdnrsrck:

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

OP you are correct. I agree with the other poster that you must take initiative as you did to do what a prudent nurse would do.

[IaCountryGirl]

Hmm, I would question her if she thought it was ok to just use a napkin......

although a couple weeks ago I watched a nurse do one and hold gauze on the patients finger without any gloves on........ick.

[link51411]

you will see a lot worse stuff than that in the future. but keep your good habits. and technically as far as pt safety goes the napkin is just as sterile as a non sterile 2x2 or cotton ball so i see her point from that perspective and i would not be surprised if she was a diabetic herself because how often do you see your friends wipe their fingers with alcohol before checking their sugars at home.

with that being said. they were in the hospital and they're nasty bugs at the hospital so use alcohol. But in thought which i had never thought about before. carrying 2x2s in your pocket from pt room to pt room to the bathroom to finally using it on a pt with an open cut. seems far more dangerous to me than a napkin that has been in the pt room.

by the way, before i get any hate mail, i always follow hospital policy and have never used a napkin when getting a blood sugar.

[CBsMommy]

Using alcohol wipes prior to getting a blood sugar is actually a controversial subject as it can alter the blood glucose. Follow the policies at the place where you are doing clinicals and/or listen to your clinical instructor.

The hospital I work at, you would be in trouble if they caught you using alcohol wipes prior to a blood glucose.

As you advance, you will see things that just shouldn't be done. Do what you've been taught and ALWAYS learn the P&P for where you are. It's up to you to maintain YOUR best practice. Good luck.

[suanna]

Using alcohol wipes prior to getting a blood sugar is actually a controversial subject as it can alter the blood glucose. Follow the policies at the place where you are doing clinicals and/or listen to your clinical instructor.

The hospital I work at, you would be in trouble if they caught you using alcohol wipes prior to a blood glucose.

As you advance, you will see things that just shouldn't be done. Do what you've been taught and ALWAYS learn the P&P for where you are. It's up to you to maintain YOUR best practice. Good luck.

I've never seen a difference. We alcohol swab before a fingerstick, but many times our patients are getting labs Q2 nor Q4 hrs so we take the glucometer sample off the chem tube. When I've done both, I've not seen much of a difference. Of course, it would depend on if you allow the alcohol to dry, then stick, then waste the first drop. That is our policy. I'd bet if things got rushed, and there was some alcohol left on the patients skin it would change the results. What do you prep the skin with when you do a FS if not alcohol?

As to the poster- Just because someone else is sloppy, it dosen't mean you have to be. Sloppy practice can become a traditional behavior in any area. I've worked units where they "never" swab ports of IV lines before accessing- they made fun of me when I did. Other units I've seen wouldn't turn a patient if thier lives depended on it. IV dressing changes, IV bag changes, ... the list of where any one nursing unit could become sloppy as a matter of tradition is long. I now work for a hospital and a unit that tries to run a pretty tight ship, but still attention to detail is a never ending task. Don't let a bad practice tradition on a unit become your practice. One or two people doing it right can change the flow back to the right way of doing things pretty fast. I think deep down most nurses would feel a little guilty about not doing it right when they see a student or new staff member who sticks to thier guns and follows good practice.

[Mike R, ADN, BSN, RN]

...and technically as far as pt safety goes the napkin is just as sterile as a non sterile 2x2 or cotton ball .... carrying 2x2s in your pocket from pt room to pt room to the bathroom to finally using it on a pt with an open cut. seems far more dangerous to me than a napkin that has been in the pt room.

2x2's and cotton balls come in "medically clean" packaging. Who knows who or what the napkin has touched in the patient's room. I see where you're going with this, but that sort of insinuates that I walk around with open 2x2's in my pocket and don't wash hands before and after every patient contact.

If the majority here agrees with you then I'll consider changing my ways. Until then, I'm curious to see what the consensus is.