Creative way to help RN's remember to cosign for chemo

[cebolton]

I just started my practicum for my last semester of nursing school on a hematology/oncology floor, where we mostly do BMT's. For part of my practicum I have to implement a unit based project and collect data to present to the unit. I spoke with the CNS on the floor and she said that the nurses have a problem remembering to cosign for chemo administration verification on the computers. They always verify chemo administration (I have witnessed this multiple times) however the second nurse typically forgets to document it. SOO...

My question is: What are some ways that you all use to remind nurses to cosign for chemo on your floors?

They tried giving stickers to the 2nd nurse but that hasn't really appeared to help.

Any and all suggestions and ideas would be great!

Thanks!!

[SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN]

The fact that I could lose my license if the other nurse/if I don't cosign for chemo that I checked has always been motivating enough for me to either 1) sign the chemo I cosigned or 2) incessantly remind the other nurse to cosign if s/he seems forgetful.

[chrisrn24]

Perhaps somehow make it so that the nurse can't physically hang the chemo until the other nurse signs. Like something in the EMAR?

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Perhaps somehow make it so that the nurse can't physically hang the chemo until the other nurse signs. Like something in the EMAR?

When I worked in the hospital, our eMAR would not allow us to sign the chemo without a second signature.

[tokebi]

Like KelRN, our system also requires second RN to sign the eMAR in order to administer the med. We verify the order and chemo at the nursing station, and then go into the patient room together to verify patient ID. And then co-sign the eMAR right there at the computer at the bedside.

What exactly is the workflow in your unit? I don't understand why a second nurse would go through the process of verification but not sign it. There must be a something that makes it a hassle if so many nurses are "forgetting" to cosign.

[TXregisteredninja]

I agree with the above posts, our system requires a consigner and their password just to be able to scan/document that you gave the medication on the Emar. No consigner = no chemo. It's dangerous to even allow someone to theoretically give chemo without double checking with another nurse. It's one restriction that may seem like a hassle but could save someone's license or life!

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I agree with the above posts, our system requires a consigner and their password just to be able to scan/document that you gave the medication on the Emar. No consigner = no chemo. It's dangerous to even allow someone to theoretically give chemo without double checking with another nurse. It's one restriction that may seem like a hassle but could save someone's license or life!

You know, in the hospital or an outpatient clinic there is someone around to double check. But I've been giving chemo for the last year and a half in my current job with no co-signer. I work in home health so it's just me out there.