Changing out isolettes

[ccnicurn]

Just wondering how often you all change out your isolettes, both with and without humidity? Also, wondering how you show when an isolette has been changed, do you tape a card to the isolette, use a piece of tape, or have some other way to show when an isolette has been changed? Thanks, I am working on revising our policy in our level 3 nicu and wanted some feedback. Thanks again!

[jrj1979]

we change them out every 7 days. And have a form that hangs on the isolette that states when it needs changed out and on what days to wean the humidity.

[babiesRmylife]

We change ours out Q7days. We would place a piece of tape with the date & shift it needed changed on the plastic edge under the isolette doors. :)

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

Weekly unless super critical...and it is documented on our treatment record in the electronic chart.

[ccnicurn]

Thank you for your replies.... it is helpful!

[mgturtle]

We change them out every 2 weeks. We just use a piece of tape with the date it needs to be changed. They make nice little signs that you can buy, but I don't think it is worth the money. There are many more important things to spend your budget on.

[sophie<3]

we change ours every 7 days. our unit has a "critical pathway"- a sheet that stays with the bedside chart that the nurses use to communicate with one another. it is basically a quick reference to the plan of care. in this we update when isolettes need to be changed, when tubing needs to be changed, IV lines and rates, feeding info, any AM labs, etc. it is updated every time the doctors write orders. very helpful!

[Love_2_Learn]

Every 2 weeks. We don't use humidity. We have little sheets of paper which also have the NTE based on birth weight which is taped to the isolette and gives appropriate NTE for age as they grow...it's on this paper that we write the date to change the isolette. We also include it on our computer-charting kardex.

[tictac]

We do every 2 weeks. We have a small paper tagged taped to it that has the date for "in" and "out". Amazing how many parents think the date pertains to the baby and that is their discharge date.

[GrowingBabies]

Changed q7days with or without humidity. I spot clean them some if they start looking gross before time to change.

Everything in the isolette is changed q24hrs on night shift.

The date for changes is on the kardex, but I like the idea of placing it ON the isolette just in case the kardex accidentally does not get updated!

Changes may be deferred if baby is very critical!

[helicoptergal, BSN, RN]

Every 2 weeks. We have a form that is in our charting that we fill out everyday as part of safety checks where that info is placed. :-)

[ccnicurn]

hey, thanks for your response, was wondering if you could give me a copy of that flowsheet you are talking about?