5 items

ClimbingNurse · Oct 14, 2005

Sorry to burst the bubble of those who carry the ever-present roll of tape visable on stethoscope or hemostat attached to your uniform. This is now a JACHO violation.

Damn near everything we do in the ED is a JCAHO violation. We just stop doing it for the 1 week that they are around every 2 years. We got evaled a week ago and passed with flying colors.

The biggest change was locking up all the IV carts so that we all had to walk around with keys on our wrists. I can't figure that one out for the life of me. Do they honestly think that non-psych patients are going to open the sharps drawer, unwrap a needle, and then stab themselves with it? I don't get it...

TexasPediRN · Oct 14, 2005

Top 5 things:

1. stethoscope(around the neck)

2. Alcohol swabs! Many of them!

3. extra bandaids & gauze (love when those IV's infiltrate and you have nothing on you :/ )

4. tape! - you'd be amazed at what it fixes. ( I used tape to fix light strings before when they break and tape them to the bed- that way the pt cant ring out and tell u they cant reach the light!)

5. at least 2 pens

I need a number 6: sissors!

Amazing..i still shove more things in my pockets...big pockets are a good thing!

design_student · Oct 14, 2005

awesome! thanks for all of the input.

looks to me like a lot of people have

pen

stethoscope

alcohol swabs...as there main 3 items.

seems a lot of you have issues with the name badge...any comments on how this could be better designed?

thanks, design_student

Indy, LPN, LVN · Oct 15, 2005

scissors, hemostat, penlight, alch swabs, tape, pen, notebook. I don't count the notebook 'cause it goes in the pants side pocket, not the shirt pockets, and I don't count the stethoscope 'cause it goes around my neck and my variety isn't one that will hang in a clip thing.

RC1 · Oct 15, 2005

As a male nurse, I would humbly suggest you provide a left and right back pocket capable of safely securing a wallet. I enjoy side cargo pockets with velcro closures too.The velcro loop for the stethosciope was an outstanding idea IMO also. PDAs and facility issued cell phones are becoming more common too which both require something to secure them to.

mitchsmom · Oct 15, 2005

As a male nurse, I would humbly suggest you provide a left and right back pocket capable of safely securing a wallet. I enjoy side cargo pockets with velcro closures too.The velcro loop for the stethosciope was an outstanding idea IMO also. PDAs and facility issued cell phones are becoming more common too which both require something to secure them to.

I carry all kinds of crap as a student so I like a lot of big pockets. I'm sure later on I will whittle down what I keep on my when I have more knowledge & a locker :)

I was going to say that some people might like a pocket that closes securely (zips?) for things like money, credit card/ID, cell, or PDA (PDA's can break when they come flying out of pockets when you bend over).

Maybe play with the velcro loop idea to come up with a way that it wouldn't swing/flop around too much while attached, but still easy to whip on and off (like physically with the top or pants, velcro & a stethoscope). Maybe impossible but probably not. You could probably make a lot of money if you came up with a truly good way to carry a steth. Also best if it won't be too prone to catching onto things (bed rails or whatever). Easy enough, huh? :)

gizelda196 · Oct 15, 2005

Damn near everything we do in the ED is a JCAHO violation. We just stop doing it for the 1 week that they are around every 2 years. We got evaled a week ago and passed with flying colors.
]
lol
DONT WE ALL. JCAHO what a joke!

gizelda196 · Oct 15, 2005

I like the velcro idea for scopes!

I carry around short legs! I am 5 feet tall. even petites are to long. so don't forget us short people when you are in on design.

Indy, LPN, LVN · Oct 15, 2005

Sorry to burst the bubble of those who carry the ever-present roll of tape visable on stethoscope or hemostat attached to your uniform. This is now a JACHO violation. Soon they will also take away our scissors, stethoscope too, unless we can prove we've done the antibacterial wash on our items between pt.'s. AND WE KNOW WE DON"T use this wash on our stethoscope, because it's drying to the plastic tubing, and will eventually cracks will appear on it. I've actually had one of my fav's stethoscope tubing split wide open and not covered by manufacture due to what they called "abuse due to antibacterial and alcohol wipes". Think about this when you spend a good $90.00 plus for your cardiac steth's people.

Please enlighten me as to the rationale behind tape and hemostat being a JCAHO violation. Is it that we're using them or that some people attach it to the uniform shirt?

JoBug · Oct 15, 2005

I would like to add, shirt pockets that everything doesn't go flying out when you bend over.......I HATE that...I carry what most do, pens, sharpie, steth, notebook...

KatieBell · Oct 15, 2005

The idea is that the tape/hemostats go in and out of every room with you and are not washed like your hands- so they could become a foamite, carrying disease.

Of course we do not change clothing every time we go in and out of a room.

But I suppose the day is coming. :rotfl:

Nurse-o-holic · Oct 15, 2005

Don't forget tall girls either! The only scrub pants that fit me that are long enough in the legs have the crotch down at my knees! There awful! And sorry but 'unisex' pants are made for men, NOT women. :no:

I hate chest pockets too cause when you lean over stuff falls out. I like the velcro/zip pocket idea, but that might get annoying in a rush. We wear our name badges around our necks, so that isn't an issue for me.

My list of 5 items: two pens, alcohol swabs, extra iv sterile caps, tape, scissors. Horray for deep pockets and cargo pockets on pants!:chuckle