Buying your own equipment?

[sbostonRN]

I am a new RN working on a very busy subacute rehab floor in a LTC facility. My floor has one VS machine for 41 patients, and I work with one other med nurse, so we're constantly running back and forth to get the VS machine. I have no issue doing manual BPs and pulses, but the only floor thermometer is connected to this unit, and its persistently broken. We've complained about this for weeks and nothing has happened. We usually end up running to another floor, borrowing their thermometer and running around like crazy trying to get temps on all the patients. I've already purchased my own fingertip pulse oximeter because I give so many nebulizer treatments. I'm thinking about buying my own tympanic thermometer but I feel stupid buying something out of my own pocket that my facility should really be buying for the floor. But NOT having a decent thermometer and having to run around looking for one is causing me even more stress! I'm ready just to bite the bullet and buy it (it does not require probe covers so it won't be a continuing expense). What would you do? Have you ever bought your own equipment for work?

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

No, absolutely not. You are now liable for any irregularities that results from use of that equipment, not to mention the fact that it effectively relieves them of their responsibility to provide it. I'd write a letter a week outlining the fact that you don't have xyz, and that is is needed, patient care is suffering, etc. You could send the same letter every week, lol. If after a few weeks you don't get a response I'd move of the chain of command and keep at it.

Under no circumstances would I assume the responsibility or liability for providing durable medical equipment. Not ever.

[Isabelle49]

Whenever you need the equipment and it is not available you should write up an incident report and it should be written up on every patient you cannot adequately assess. I would also say you might start looking for another job.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

No, absolutely not. You are now liable for any irregularities that results from use of that equipment, not to mention the fact that it effectively relieves them of their responsibility to provide it. I'd write a letter a week outlining the fact that you don't have xyz, and that is is needed, patient care is suffering, etc. You could send the same letter every week, lol. If after a few weeks you don't get a response I'd move of the chain of command and keep at it.

Under no circumstances would I assume the responsibility or liability for providing durable medical equipment. Not ever.

Absolutely agree (and didn't want to write the same general info :)). Once you bring your own stuff, if something happens that in any way effects patent care, you are the one who gets the blame for using unapproved equipment.

[caliotter3]

My nursing supervisor is ok with nurses using their own equipment, in spite of any legal ramifications. My employer won't buy a thing. They don't even pay wages for overtime and other such things, so they aren't going to spring for anything else. And nobody wants to be looking for a job around here.

[MunoRN, RN]

I agree that you shouldn't give in to your employers lack of equipment by buying things your employer should buy.

But the argument that you have increased liability is not really accurate, this issue came up where I work and was reviewed by both the hospital and Union's legal departments. I think most Nurses own their own stethoscope, and I've never heard it argued that Nurses should not use their own stethoscopes because it's legally reckless to do so. The equipment does need to be FDA approved for that purpose and maintained per manufacturers instructions and facility protocol. If you make your pulse ox at home at use it, then yes you are liable. But if you are using a device approved by the FDA (or other bodies depending on the device) for that purpose and maintained appropriately, you are no more liable than using facility owned equipment.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

I agree that you shouldn't give in to your employers lack of equipment by buying things your employer should buy.

But the argument that you have increased liability is not really accurate, this issue came up where I work and was reviewed by both the hospital and Union's legal departments. I think most Nurses own their own stethoscope, and I've never heard it argued that Nurses should not use their own stethoscopes because it's legally reckless to do so. The equipment does need to be FDA approved for that purpose and maintained per manufacturers instructions and facility protocol. If you make your pulse ox at home at use it, then yes you are liable. But if you are using a device approved by the FDA for that purpose and maintained appropriately, you are no more liable than using facility owned equipment.

I think the difference is that stethoscopes are pretty standard individual property...a BP cuff or thermometer (with electronics that can malfunction) are a problem because of the ways they can fail. Kinda like my watch is a personal item- I don't have a hospital issued watch- but it's a 'known' individual's personal property.

One place I worked at absolutely forbade the use of electronic BP cuffs (thermometers weren't as big a deal)- especially the wrist models. Granted, this place thought that farting was a suable offense, but their reasoning was that if it's used in their facility, but not on their approved equipment list (or whatever) they would not back up a nurse who used them. A nurse COULD- but if something went wrong- she/he was on their own.

[rn/writer, RN]

Please, do not give your employer the message that if they don't provide decent, working equipment, the nurses will just cave in on themselves and take up a collection.

Maybe a whispered word to a state inspector is in order.

[MunoRN, RN]

Stethoscopes can also be electronic diagnostic equipment, and the findings can direct clinical decisions, so I'm still not sure what the difference is. This came up where I work due to personal pulse oximeters. Even the Union's lawyer (who gets paid to side with Nursing staff paranoia) didn't agree that using one's own pulse ox made any legal difference as long as the rules were followed.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

Stethoscopes can also be electronic diagnostic equipment. This came up where I work due to personal pulse oximeters. Even the Union's lawyer (who gets paid to side with Nursing staff paranoia) didn't agree that using one's own pulse ox made any legal difference as long as the rules were followed.

Yeah- guess it all depends on the employer :)

[MunoRN, RN]

Personally I wouldn't buy anything beyond a stethoscope. Depending on the facility, Doc's might have more influence. If I routinely didn't have access to a thermometer, I might call the Doc every time just to let them know the patient might have a temp, although I don't know for sure because we don't have thermometers. Even better, call your manager at home every night to let them know. Whatever your method, being aggressive and relentless should be a major aspect of it. It shouldn't take too many 2AM calls before you suddenly have new thermometers.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

Personally I wouldn't buy anything beyond a stethoscope. Depending on the facility, Doc's might have more influence. If I routinely didn't have access to a thermometer, I might call the Doc every time just to let them know the patient might have a temp, although I don't know for sure because we don't have thermometers. Even better, call your manager at home every night to let them know. Whatever your method, being aggressive and relentless should be a major aspect of it. It shouldn't take too many 2AM calls before you suddenly have new thermometers.