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I was wondering if other nurses are also eperiencing hospital changes that are driving them crazy and making it difficult for them to do their job. At the hospital I work at, we are not allowed to keep needles, iv catheters, and saline flushes in our rooms. We even have cabinets in our rooms, but we are not allowed to keep these items in the cabinets as well. So we end up carrying these items in our pockets. It seems like a waste of time and we end up spending a lot of time looking for these supplies. I don't understand why there are not locks on the cabinet doors in the room so we can stock those items when needed. There is nothing like having to restart an IV to give a stat medication and not have a flush or iv catheter. I just want to pull my hair out sometimes.:banghead: Not to mention the petty junior high stuff that takes place. Why are nurses so catty?

Specializes in LTC, wound care.

These things should be kept in your med room. They should be readily available so that you can grab and go.....truly. It's crazy to waste time searching for stuff that should be stocked on the floor for you.

I've never (in 25 years of nursing) worked anywhere where we were allowed to keep those kind of supplies in pt rooms. They're in the med room or supply room, and you grab them as you're getting your meds, IV set-up, whatever, ready (or carry a couple spares in your pockets, as others have noted). It's just a matter of being organized and thinking ahead.

I've never (in 25 years of nursing) worked anywhere where we were allowed to keep those kind of supplies in pt rooms. They're in the med room or supply room, and you grab them as you're getting your meds, IV set-up, whatever, ready (or carry a couple spares in your pockets, as others have noted). It's just a matter of being organized and thinking ahead.

Same here. We don't keep them in patient rooms either. Ours are kept in the med room and we are adequately stocked at all times. I agree that being organized and thinking ahead are key.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Acute Rehab.

I really did not want to feed in to your anger. I just wanted to give you some advice, maybe a bit bluntly, but nontheless, realistic, about not stressing so much over all the little pain in the ass things we have to deal with as nurses. I say this because if, early our careers, we let these little things drive us crazy, as you say, we will end up hating our jobs so bad that we will either leave or become bitter old nurses! Our facility has pre-filled NS syringes that are wrapped in cellophane (or some type of plastic stuff!). So it's not an infection control issue. Maybe your facility does not have these and if you have to fill them yourself from a 1000ml bag that's hanging out somewhere, then I know that is a hassle. But, that is an infection control issue too, so where is the line drawn? If you are sure that the cabinets in the rooms were designed specifically for this purpose, then find it in the P&P manual and bring it up to someone who can facilitate a change in your manager's policy. As for the catty nurse's, you are right, they are everywhere.......but you have to find your own way to deal with them. Keep in mind that these people are usually miserable in their own lives, so they need to make others miserable. When I tell myself this, it makes it easier.

I stuff my pockets with flushes, caps, and alcohol wipes at the beginning of my shift. I stick the unused stuff in my desk (I'm mgmt) at the end of my shift and resupply my pockets at the start of the next. I don't return them to the med room because while I don't mind so much possibly contaminating my desk the entire med room is another story.

The cattiness, well - just try not to feed into it. It's hard, but it can be cone.

Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.

That's why I wear 7 pocket cargo pants and three pocket tops. LOTS of room for about 10 flushes, alcohol wipes and what have you. I can go through about 150 flushes in a shift though, so every time I am getting out meds I restock my pockets.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Acute Rehab.
That's why I wear 7 pocket cargo pants and three pocket tops. LOTS of room for about 10 flushes, alcohol wipes and what have you. I can go through about 150 flushes in a shift though, so every time I am getting out meds I restock my pockets.

EXACTLY MY POINT!!! Of all things to "drive someone crazy", flushes????

We have cabinets with locks in our patient rooms, and we still can't keep any supplies like that in them (flushes are to be drawn up fresh... although drawing up flushes from a shared bag of saline is a questionable practice, IMO...). I am so used to getting flushes as I go that I don't really think about it.

Specializes in pulm/cardiology pcu, surgical onc.
I've never (in 25 years of nursing) worked anywhere where we were allowed to keep those kind of supplies in pt rooms. They're in the med room or supply room, and you grab them as you're getting your meds, IV set-up, whatever, ready (or carry a couple spares in your pockets, as others have noted). It's just a matter of being organized and thinking ahead.

Wow I should consider myself lucky to be able to have what supplies (locked of course) I need in each patient room! I couldn't imagine running around with my pockets loaded down with flushes and what not. We do not keep IV set ups in the rooms but 4 x 4's, drain sponges, filter needles, and whatever else we would want to put in for the patient. Volunteers keep them stocked with the basics. This is a magnet hospital so I assume that they wouldn't take any patient safety risks to jeopardize that status.

Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.
Wow I should consider myself lucky to be able to have what supplies (locked of course) I need in each patient room! I couldn't imagine running around with my pockets loaded down with flushes and what not. We do not keep IV set ups in the rooms but 4 x 4's, drain sponges, filter needles, and whatever else we would want to put in for the patient. Volunteers keep them stocked with the basics. This is a magnet hospital so I assume that they wouldn't take any patient safety risks to jeopardize that status.

I have worked in hospitals with this arrangement before and I like it. One big disadvantage is when the pt is on precautions. When the pt leaves, ALL supplies in the room have to be thrown out. Even unopened supplies.

Specializes in pulm/cardiology pcu, surgical onc.

If the pt is on precautions then that is the exception, we can't use supplies from the cabinet.

This is a magnet hospital so I assume that they wouldn't take any patient safety risks to jeopardize that status.

I didn't mean to suggest that doing things as your facility does is dangerous or inappropriate in any way; just that it's certainly not a universal practice, and one should not feel particularly put upon or mistreated if one doesn't have that option.

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