Docs and their dirty sharps...

[neneRN]

Just curious to see if your docs routinely clean up their sharps after inserting central lines and chest tubes?

I never really gave it much thought until one of our newer docs kind of looked at me funny when I thanked him for clearing his sharps from his used central line kit and he remarked, "I'm a big boy, I can clean up my own mess." Most of the other docs just leave everything at bedside for the nurse to clean up,i.e., dig through all the bloody sharps, and I've become so used to automatically doing it that I really didn't give it a second thought. But since that doc made that comment, I find myself getting irritated now when I have to clean up after the others; its not the cleaning up, its the digging for the dirty sharps, the putting myself at risk for a stick, just because I'm the nurse.

So have the docs in my ER gotten into a bad habit or do they all do this?

[Altra, BSN, RN]

Our docs here clean up all their sharps - if someone finds one that was missed, I have observed the nurse/tech/whoever going to get the doc to ask him/her to please dispose of it. I greatly appreciate this. As far as cleaning up everything else ... it's inconsistent - some docs do, some don't.

Many of our docs will also get out their own supplies for a line insertion, suturing, LP, etc. -- they just ask for the Lidocaine or other meds from the Pyxis.

[andhow5, BSN, RN]

They clean up the sharps they've used...PLUS another added bonus....On their first day of rotation, residents are shown where the supply cart is, and if they are going to insert alines/cvp/swan then they would get the supply that they would need. We would still be responsible for the transducer and its set up, but our residents are very good at helping themselves in the supply room, and are able to charge it to a specific patient as well. They clean the drapes up as well after suturing, and most of the time they will ask if we would do the dressing...

Wow! Can you send them this way?!?

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

Where I work, it is hospital policy that they HAVE to take their sharps off the tray. A few years back we had a huge surge in needle sticks or scalpel slices and they were all related to trays. We always ask if all sharps are off, and if they say no, or walk away without doing it we call them back. If someone is stuck by something left on a tray, the doc is written up and it goes to risk management. Personally, I always go thru the tray with a pair of hemostats, never my hands.

And our docs are taught from day one how to get all their own supplies and set up their trays. If it is really busy and they are doing an assembly line kind of things with lines, we will set them up, but otherwise it is their responsibility.

[danfif]

If my Doc's don't take care of their sharps, they are requested to do so ASAP, I came close one time to getting stuck while cleaning up after a resident, and it will be the last time!

There are alot of things that are my job, but that ain't one of them!

Dan

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

i've worked in a number of hospitals on the east coast, west coast and midwest, and our docs have always disposed of their own sharps! i've never been anywhere that they didn't.

otoh, there was one doc i knew who occaisionally disposed of them by throwing them at the nurse . . . that's another topic, though.

ruby

[edogs334]

As a lot of other people have already mentioned, everyone is responsible for disposing of their own sharps. I'm a new ED Tech and was taught this from the get-go. This mindset was further validated when one of the 1st year residents in my ED (and a former EMT-P) gave us new techs an informational lecture on how we have every right to criticize a doc (or anyone else) who doesn't clean up their own sharps (especially after a central or A-line insertion). It's not only a source of annoyance, it's an important safety issue. I also learned (from one of the attendings) that it's not proper to take a sharp handed to you from another provider- that's one of the most common ways in which people get stuck.

[needsmore$]

Our ED docs also are very conscientious regarding their sharps. They are NOT as concerned about their bloody dressings, bloody irrigation returns dripping off the stretcher unto the floor, etc.

The specialty docs (plastics, ortho and surgeons) are not as good regarding sharps--maybe they are used to the OR environment? Do the scrub nurses handle the used sharps for the surgeons?

[phluteloop]

On the ICU I work on I've encountered the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to clean-up time. One doc came in a little disturbed to began with, and after a central line placement, immediatly de-gowned and walked out, leaving heapfuls of goodies (on the bedside tray, counter, under the sheet????). Then I've had some that actually came back to help, seemingly surprised when we acted so grateful.

And the ugly?

Some genius threw away a 10cc syringe (1/4 full with some clear fluid) with what looked to be a 19g needle on there in the trash. I discovered it en route to the dirty utility room when I felt two pokes on the back end of the calf. The following six hours as I awaited all my blood tests nearly made me rethink my profession choice.

Luckily, we knew the service that performed the procedure for that room...so they got a fun a little phone call.

*NOTE: the sharps is located underneath the sink. OK, GRANTED, you can't find it off the bat...but seriously, throw it the trash?? seriously...:trout:

[TazziRN, RN]

most of our docs clean up after themselves. the few who don't are liable to be the recipient of a well-aimed comment or two from the nurse who gets stuck with the cleanup.

[froglady77]

When I was a tech in the Er and cleaning up I&D trays I almost got stuck with a needle. The docs are not suppose to leave any sharps in the room, the charge went and found him and made him go clean it up.

[HoosiER RN, RN]

All our docs are conscientious about cleaning up their sharps because they know if one of us gets stuck they'll be up @#%$ creek for a long time. But we are still very carefull when we clean up. Just in case,

[sjt9721, BSN, RN]

*NOTE: the sharps is located underneath the sink. OK, GRANTED, you can't find it off the bat...but seriously, throw it the trash?? seriously...:trout:

Don't let JCAHO catch you keeping anything under the sink!