Davita Lufkin dialysis unit

[anurseadvocate]

Is anyone following the Davita - Lufkin, Texas fiasco. Am interested in your opinion?

[nursewratchet59]

We heard that the nurse actually did this as well. She was said to have alchohol on her breath. That facility uses Fresenius machines. Policy in that facility, and I think all Davita Clinics, at least mine is, no bleach to be measured via syringe, must be measured into a cup or cylinder. At my clinic, they have to get the charge nurse to unlock the bleach from a cabinet. Not sure about the Lufkin policies.

[AsatruRN]

I do know that when machines are disinfected with bleach there are special reagent strips that must be verified no bleach prior to patients being connected.

There were two eyewitnesses who saw her drawing up bleach and injecting it into bloodlines.

The facility had higher than usual death rates. And after these incidents, investigations, and a staff overhaul it seems to have improved there.

If bleach is accidentally given to a patient via a disinfected machine where reagent strips weren't used the reaction would be immediate, it wouldn't be halfway through a treatment now would it?

Each time the machines or the bicarb loop is disinfected with bleach there are warning signs posted, and the RN must sign off that machines have been verified with reagent strips that all machines are clear of bleach before treatments start. PERIOD