Drinks at the nurses station

dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I · Apr 21, 2011

I've heard of many sources for these rules, never been able to confirm any. Fluids and electronics don't mix well at all, so computers, monitors, glucometers, phones are at risk for "Sudden Junk Syndrome." Last place I worked it was so hard to stay hydrated that the staff just decided we would use covered containers no matter what the rules said. Manager finally got tired of hearing "yes boss."

psu_213, BSN, RN · Apr 21, 2011

My previous unit got cited by the state for nurses having drinks at the nurses station. To correct this, the unit had a designated "clean area." This was a small area on the nurse's station desk where no stethoscopes, medical equipment, meds, etc. etc. was allowed...this area was also away from any electronic devices. The only thing allowed there was drinks with a lid on them. No drinks were allowed to sit elsewhere in the nurse's station. Then again, people only went by the "clean area" rules when the state was in the building. Anyway, this seemed to keep the state happy.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Apr 21, 2011

this just came up about a week ago: it's an osha rule for your protection.

here are the actual osha regulations
1910.1030(d)(2)(ix)
eating, drinking, smoking, applying cosmetics or lip balm, and handling contact lenses are prohibited in work areas where there is a reasonable likelihood of occupational exposure.
1910.141(g)(2)
eating and drinking areas. no employee shall be allowed to consume food or beverages in a toilet room nor in any area exposed to a toxic material.
in other words this is not a patient safety issue, but rather an employee safety issue. the joint commission has no specific standard on the issue other than for hospitals to comply with osha regulations.
crud comes into the nursing station all the time. lab folks with their trays of tubes of blood, nasty patinets cutting through to the next hall. urine specimens in containers on the counter waiting to be carried or sent to the lab. someone with a cold or worse just taking a sip from your covered coke.
thats why osha has this rule.
here's the thread:
https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/fed-up-rules-544877.html

JKL33 · Apr 21, 2011

Am curious as to whether OSHA has some controlled studies showing the clear association of employees' infectious disease manifestation and toxic exposures directly caused by drinking from covered containers in the workspace (specifically, nurse's station).

It is beyond far-fetched to suggest that THIS of all things is how ER employees are exposed to infections and toxins in the course of the work day. It's a bunch of pure baloney. Furthermore, this is EXACTLY the kind of thing that significantly decreases job satisfaction, entirely unnecessarily. We expect to work hard (oftentimes enjoying it), work at a fast pace, keep up with policy/practice/technology changes, provide great care in a multitude of different situations....all this is part of what we love. What starts to whittle away at morale is rules and guidelines taken to extremes and enforced by those who have lost touch with reality.

As far as OSHA......when they demand that, for example, there is always (under the threat of heavy fines/penalties) adequate staffing and equipment to lift/roll/push/pull/drag a 300/400/500 lb patient at the drop of a hat, I will consider the idea that they might have our best interests at heart. It's funny how certain things are just blown off as known risks/requirements of the job, while something stupid like taking a drink, has to have it's own specific rule.

I like the idea of having a designated area, easily accessible, for covered drinks. And very thankful to be working in a ED where admin recognizes there are much bigger fish to fry. Not even an issue except periodically when it HAS to be.

Bonnie Nurse · Apr 21, 2011

I would like to see controlled studies regarding impact of inadequate hydration of nursing staff. Every place I've worked where nurses had to walk to a lounge area to simple get a drink of water, nurses complained of frequent UTI's.

NotFlo · Apr 21, 2011

I just want to say that I am firmly on the side of hydration.

It is a constant battle to stay hydrated at work and it shouldn't be. I should be able to access fluids freely throughout my day. I simply don't have the time to run off down the hall or downstairs to the employee lounge (where I truly believe the tables are no cleaner than at the nurses' station) to take in fluids all during the day. I can't leave the floor for for lunch, to pee or anything else, how am I supposed to leave the floor even once every 2 hrs to guzzle water?

It's always hot where I work, and I sweat plenty running around, moving immobile and obese patients, doing the work we all do. I am "pushing fluids" on this and that LOL to prevent UTI, making sure everyone has clean, fresh water pitchers, seeing pts. urine samples are too dark and again encouraging fluids but I end the day with cracked lips, parched tongue, concentrated urine and a headache from a simple lack of access to water.

I know I sound overly dramatic, but it is a pet peeve issue of mine. Infection control at my current job has made this their top priority, to prevent the nurses from drinking, or should I say floor nurses, because management and ICN herself can of course enjoy their coffees, waters (they even have a bubbler in their office!) et al at their desks all day long. Yes I'm bitter.

I would love OSHA to write rules that ensure the staff has free and adequate access to fluids to prevent dehydration, and when they're working to prevent injuries from short staffing and lifting obese people without proper equipment etc. Until then, I guess I just have to suffer with the H2O police continually on the prowl for that 12 hr old warm bottle of water I've sipped a few times when I actually had a minute or two at the nurses station that day...

Oh, I also adore it when some kind sole brings me in a coffee from Dunkin Donuts...I'm always really grateful that they thought of me. Wonder if they know I take a sip while running it back into hiding in the locker room 'cause I can't have it out anywhere and get back to it 8 hrs later, yum.

mskate · Apr 21, 2011

We have full meals at the nurses station! hahaha basins of chips and veggies, cakes, drinks, crock pots..... and at the bedside, since we have to stay *inside* our rooms unless we are on break, we all keep covered drinks at the bedside....

JB2007, ASN, RN · Apr 21, 2011

My place of employment has a rule stateing that you can only have drinks in the breakroom. The breakroom is not in a centrally located area where it is practical to run in for a quick sip of water throughout the night. I was following their rule for a time and the amount of fluids that I drank throughout the day decreased. Then I started to get frequent UTIs. The UTI started to be so often that PCP told me that I was going to have to see a specialist if I continued to get UTIs that often. I decided that I was no longer going to follow the facilitiy's rule regarding drinks in the work area and started keeping a covered container of water at the nurses station. Since then I no longer get UTIs as often and I fell a lot better at work. I do my best to follow the rules that my employer have set for me to follow, but when it comes to my health I will break that one.

CompleteUnknown · Apr 21, 2011

We have a cold water fountain (with disposable cups) in each area and a centrally located break room with fridge and microwave, etc. There are enough water fountains that you can always get a drink when you need one. I can't imagine working somewhere where you don't have easy access to drinking water. Yikes!

noahsmama · Apr 21, 2011

At the hospital I used to work at, the break room was very close to the nurse's station and it was pretty easy to run in there periodically and grab a quick drink of water. At the NICU where I did my preceptorship (in a different hospital) there was a small designated area where nurses could keep their covered water bottles.

I agree that OSHA should be at least as concerned about making it possible for employees to stay hydrated as they are about protecting them from toxins or infectious diseases!

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Apr 21, 2011

It is just not practical to starve and deny fluids to people who rarely get breaks. Their has to be compromise and common sense. And night shifters need coffee!

Give the state what they want (lip service) and follow it only when they are in the building.