Clinical Question

[crany3]

Hi

I just joined and was hoping for some help. ??? Can anyone give me some ideas that are used inhospital to communicate to all staff not to use an extremity due to mastectomy or shunt or infor for DNR, allergy, fall alert??? Do you use armbands or something ????

[caliotter3]

Welcome to allnurses and hope you enjoy the site. I know that I was taught to post a sign above the patient's head on the wall or somewhere near the bed where it would be easily seen. Also, have seen the use of specially marked armbands. There has been some discussion on this board about doing these measures and violations of HIPAA. I know, as a minimum, this info should appear in the patient's chart in the nursing care plan, but don't quite understand the HIPAA implications, as patient conditions are discussed in front of others in the same room all the time. It might take some doing, but you could look up posts about this subject. Good luck. Hopefully, you will get some input from people about how this is handled in their units.

[santhony44, MSN, RN, NP]

I've always seen signs over the head of the bed, but that may be on its way out. I've also seen colored armbands and/or colored dots by the door and over the bed. The armbands/dots don't have anything on them to indicate why they're there but the staff knows.

[twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN]

Hi

I just joined and was hoping for some help. ??? Can anyone give me some ideas that are used inhospital to communicate to all staff not to use an extremity due to mastectomy or shunt or infor for DNR, allergy, fall alert??? Do you use armbands or something ????

in my hospital, we use armbands.

blue= DNR

red= don't use exremity

put a sticker on the white band and you have fall risk precautions along with on the door and chart

green= allergy band

all of that and it can't hurt to put a sign up above the bed, for things like not using an extremitiy, a pt being deaf or blind

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

In a former hospital, we used signs on above the bed and on the door of pt rooms. The signs don't say why so you are technically not giving out health information.

Something like "No IV, BP, or needlesticks in L arm" is pretty safe.

If your patient is a & o, s/he will probably remind you anyway. I had a pt (working in the clinic) s/p mastectomy that would always tell me which arm I could use. I'm always grateful for the reminder, personally.

[everthesame, LPN, LVN]

Bright pink armbands. All armbands go on the same arm so that when you are checking the armband before a lab draw you will, hopefully, notice the pink arm band. We also have a pre-printed report sheet for each patient with an area where special info can be entered so it prints out on the report sheet.

[Agenyc]

My first clinical site (LTC) has 1 armband with different colored dots indicating DNR, diabetes, "wanderer" etc. (aswell as in the chart) . Seams to be working well. Didn't have to sign any HIPAA forms before though.. I think that system is working well for them. Going to a "real hospital this week so we'll see how it works there...

[hikernurse]

Bright pink armbands as well as an above the bed sign. Patients usually know to remind staff to avoid the arms, but I like the additional reminders since patients aren't always alert enough to be in charge of that.

I'm afraid I might overlook something as small as a dot.

[Snow1278, RN]

We place a sign above the bed that states no bp, or needle sticks in right or left arm. We also put a pink band on the arm that we are not able to use. For falls we place a magnet on the door that says moving safely, put a yellow band on them, and give them red slipper socks instead of the blue or tan ones. We use black and white striped bands for DNR and place a sign with an A on it if they are DNRCCA and a C if they are a DNR. For allergies we place a red band on an arm to let everyone know the patinet is allergic to something.Hope this helps. :welcome:

[Christie RN2006]

We place a sign over the bed stating "do not use ____ arm for blood draws, BP's or IV's" We also write "do not use _____ arm" in red on the patients kardex.

[Ivanna_Nurse, BSN, RN]

Hey there!

We use:

blue- DNR

red- Allergy

green- blood band

hot pink- no iv/bp/needle sticks

green star on bracelet- fall risk

There is also a "falling star magnet" in the doorway. I think these are a great idea.

Fluid restrictions, and signs for no bps or needlesticks are posted at the head of the bed also.

I have seen places that have hollisters at the head of the bed, and all kinds of little signs with goodies can be put at the HOB. (type of diet, stool specs needed, allergies, DNR, etc.) I personally feel that there are some things that visitors and pts in the next bed DONT need to know.

~Ivanna P.S. :welcome:

[daisey_may]

For us we have:

purple arm band: DNR

red arm band: Latex allergy

yellow arm band: fall risk, along with a yellow sheet above the bed and a yellow leaf outside the door for fall risk

we also have different yellow bands for lab that have 10 or stickers that show that a pt has been typed and crossed for blood/ blood products. Then a sticker is taken off this arm band to take to lab for a unit of blood/blood products.

We'll hang a sign above the bed that says: no b/p's, IVs or lab draws in the ___ arm

It's interesting how the colors have different meanings in different hospitals!

We also have white boards in the room that sometimes have information about how pt transfers, diet, fluid restriction, etc.