drinks at the nurses station

[gamegirlkimmy]

I have just recently joined the management team in the ER where I have been a staff nurse. Drinks in the nurses station has been an ongoing battle for as long as I have been a nurse. My manager simply comes out to the floor and procedes to throw any drinks in the trash, this action makes people mad and they resent her for it. I know that OSHA regulations state we cannot have food/drinks in area where contamination from blood borne pathogens and such may happen. My question is, is there a better way to get compliance from staff? I know as a busy ER staff nurse that it is hard to excuse yourself to the breakroom to get a drink and I always kept a covered cup with water hidden at the nurses station. So its hard for me as a new manager to expect compliance from my staff when I know how hard it is myself. Any suggestions?

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

see, i don't understand this rule of not drinking at your work station, because they say its a infection control issue. where is the data to back this up with?. i would like to read it. i see it as more of a health risk to us in the medical field, but they say it is for our protection. its bad enough that we hold our pee in for hours, and there is data to back that up, on how unhealthy that is to do. there is data on fake finger nails. but i have been in this for 25 years and i have never heard of anyone getting sick, from drinking at there desk. and why would you put blood or urine specimens next to your drinks.i don't see others or myself doing that. and patients can't come into the nurses station, its a hippa violation. so , is it like something in the air? lol

issue is reducing spread of hepatitis + transmission of infections from patients to health care personnel and from personnel to patients:

osha: 05/17/2006 - requirements for covered beverages at nurses' stations.

[color=#003399]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.

centers for disease control, american journal of infection control, june 1998, vol. 26, "[color=#003399]guideline for infection control in health care personnel, 1998."

studies listed @ end: cpl 02-02-069 - cpl 2-2.69 - enforcement procedures for the occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens

[nursingfolk]

"We can have bottled water and that is it." Is that per Joint Commission, management or hospital policy? I'm working on a project and am gathering info:) Thanks!