Badge Tracking

[SparklyBaby]

Hey all! Not sure if this has been discussed in other topics but I was wondering how many of you use badge trackers that monitor hand hygiene compliance at your hospital? If so, what are your thoughts/experience with using these systems and how can we make them better?

[incredibleMary_Marie, BSN]

53 minutes ago, LilPeanut said:

I think actually more research needs to be done now into the microbiome on our hands. We wash off all the "good bacteria" and are more likely to get colonized with "bad bacteria" with all the washing I would think.

I just wonder if this is one of those things where it is the classic blunder where some is good, but a lot is not great and there might be a better way that we're missing.

100% We don't know how harmful this is to nurses acid mantle and naturally protective microbiome , let alone patients, especially when we have hundreds of encountered over a shift with these substances that aren't safe to begin with (MSDS this stuff! It's an eye opener!).

[Forest2]

On 4/7/2019 at 8:30 AM, FolksBtrippin said:

Every now and then I think about going back to the hospital so I can work 3 12s and make a little more money. Then I learn of some fresh hell like this and thank my lucky stars I got out of that nightmare.

I won't go back as an RN and be a patsy. Maybe as an NP.

Mass respect for all the bedside nurses who somehow manage to take care of their patients in this kind of environment.

Yea, I sorta have to admit it sucks. Now when the patient presses their nurse call the phone in my pocket rings and my badge tells where I am at all times. I sometimes feel trapped and haunted. Especially when you are trying to take care of one patient and another one calls every 60 seconds with the same request!! I can't be in two places at once. So many buzzers and bells and ringers. It can drive me crazy! And cameras too, I guess they can't trust nurses. Which seems ironic since nurses are listed at the number one trusted profession.

[Forest2]

On 4/6/2019 at 9:17 PM, TriciaJ said:

The other reason it's not impacted the infection rates is because those who were spreading the infections still are.

Anyone who enters or exits a patient room should clean their hands, I don't care if they are the CEO or a visitor. It should be mandatory for everyone! But, using a badge to monitor this stuff is not acceptable to me.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

20 hours ago, Ruby Vee said:

I had to laugh, because that's exactly what we did. "OOPS! I dropped it in the toilet." Happened over and over, so management concluded that it was cheaper to stop replacing the trackers.

That. Is. Amazing!!! ?

[TriciaJ, RN]

1 hour ago, Here.I.Stand said:

That. Is. Amazing!!! ?

Actually, after I read Ruby's post, I was thinking all the ways those tracker badges could accidentally get lost. Not just down the toilet; one could fall off into a laundry hamper just before it goes down the chute. One could fall off into a pile of poo just before it gets rolled up in a chux and tossed. Some might get accidentally left on a cafeteria tray...

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

30 minutes ago, TriciaJ said:

Actually, after I read Ruby's post, I was thinking all the ways those tracker badges could accidentally get lost. Not just down the toilet; one could fall off into a laundry hamper just before it goes down the chute. One could fall off into a pile of poo just before it gets rolled up in a chux and tossed. Some might get accidentally left on a cafeteria tray...

Or onto a sterile field just as the resident is rolling it up (yeah, right, because they all clean up after themselves) or fell down an elevator shaft (actually happened to a former colleague of mine -- and his car keys. Twice.) Went into the hopper, stolen by a family member (happened) or melted in the autoclave -- also happened, although I'm not sure how accidental it was.

[TriciaJ, RN]

8 minutes ago, Ruby Vee said:

Or onto a sterile field just as the resident is rolling it up (yeah, right, because they all clean up after themselves) or fell down an elevator shaft (actually happened to a former colleague of mine -- and his car keys. Twice.) Went into the hopper, stolen by a family member (happened) or melted in the autoclave -- also happened, although I'm not sure how accidental it was.

Of course it was all accidental. I'm sure everyone felt just terrible each time it happened.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

23 minutes ago, TriciaJ said:

Of course it was all accidental. I'm sure everyone felt just terrible each time it happened.

Actual tears were cried.

[NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN]

3 hours ago, TriciaJ said:

Actually, after I read Ruby's post, I was thinking all the ways those tracker badges could accidentally get lost. Not just down the toilet; one could fall off into a laundry hamper just before it goes down the chute. One could fall off into a pile of poo just before it gets rolled up in a chux and tossed. Some might get accidentally left on a cafeteria tray...

Had one hospital that would charge the employee $20 to replace their lost tracker if they didn’t have the one issued initially with employment.

It seemed like the trackers were always discovered as missing when management was using them as a way to see if the nurse entered each patient’s room at least once an hour in the middle of the night. When someone’s tracker didn’t show up on the unit that night they were informed to remember to wear it or pay to replace it...

The hand sanitizer to the point of grime built up or not using soap and water more frequently (or for C-Diff) didn’t seem to even matter to management.

[Kallie3006, ADN]

I am confused, there is money available for these "wonderful" advancements in technology, but not enough money to consider being fully staffed beneficial for staff and patients?