Disposing of supplies

[kek5931]

Some months ago, our ICU started the practice of throwing out all bedside stand supplies that remained after a pt. was transfered out of a room (in the name of infection control, even if a patient wasn't 'infected'). This is now costing our unit almost $50,000 a month in supplies (syringes, dressings, tapes, blood draw supplies, etc.) despite our efforts to limit what we bring into a patient's room.

Does anyone else do this? What are your practices as far is 'in room' supplies for pt. rooms/ICU's? Does anyone know of any evidence that might support this practice? It seems like a waste with no measurable benefit. I see how it might be beneficial to dispose of items from rooms of patients with C-diff/MRSA/VRE, but after EVERYONE?

Thanks.

[mamamerlee, LPN]

You all need to increase your efforts to limit what you leave in the rooms. You cannot return anything left at the bedside to the general supplies. Many places have 'locked' drawers in the rooms at least 6 feet from the bed, with the general supplies, then you only take out what you need at that time.

Best wishes.

[meandragonbrett]

We only throw away when the patient is or has been in isolation in our unit. Otherwise we try to keep supplies in easily accessible places and only take in what we need when we need it.

[nurse_mo1986]

Our ICU tends to limit wastage by keeping locked drawers in each individual room with commonly used supplies. We then take out only the supplies we need each time we go into that room. It seems like the system works really well for us, and there is def. a limited amount of wastage by doing it this way.

[kek5931]

We do have a locked cart of supplies in each room. Those supplies are all thrown away when a patient leaves the room.

[mamamerlee, LPN]

Everything in the cart?? That seems excessive.

[kek5931]

Everything in the cart, whatever may be there; syringes, dressings, ekg electrodes, unopened packages of IV start supplies, IV tubings, IV bags, blood draw supplies, ABG kits, anything and everything even if the patient has not been deemed 'infected'. We do start out the 'drawer' with minimal supplies and try to tailor that to the individual being admitted, but inevitably supplies are added and not used and we have to throw them out. We have been instructed to only supply the drawer with what we need for our shift. Great. We try. But for example, after running to the supply room 4 times for extra flushes after I was 'sure' I was done with syringes for the day, I will certainly grab 4 extra and throw them in the drawer. I know that happens with other supplies as well after nurses find it easier on them and safer for the patient to just have the 'just in case' supplies right at the bedside.