Bar coding

2rntish · Sep 9, 2004

We started barcoding 2 months ago. It should provide some measure of safety eventually. Right now we have too many nurses focused on the computer and not on the patient.

mattsmom81 · Sep 9, 2004

Yeah, that was my problem...too many bugs in the system and we were forced to spend waaay too much time on it IMO. My particular facility did not set up the thing right and the nurses are still paying for that...many have left including me...LOL!

Some nurses here have said its not too bad if its setup and managed appropriately, but I sure couldn't see it working easily in my ICU with all the nows and stats...who has time to wait to get pharmacy to enter a stat...and who has time to self enter (but we were expected to regardless)

Personally I found my one experience with it ridiculously time consuming...I felt like a nurse to computers instead of patients...but hopefully other facilities are doing a better job. I insist on prioritizing with my patients so I was not compatible with this system in critical care.

I heard JCAHO is revising its initial demand all hospitals go to barcoding, so they must be hearing of some of the problems they've created.

pedineuronurse · Sep 9, 2004

we've had barcoding for over a year and a half. if a drug is ordered stat and is available on the floor, we don't have to wait for pharmacy to enter it, we can deliver the med and then later link the drug with the order, once the order is input by pharmacy.

it is a highly effective method, at our hospital, in reducing the number of medication errors. we are now almost 100% medication error free.

pa-tricia · Sep 12, 2004

That is so wonderful!!!

we've had barcoding for over a year and a half. if a drug is ordered stat and is available on the floor, we don't have to wait for pharmacy to enter it, we can deliver the med and then later link the drug with the order, once the order is input by pharmacy.
it is a highly effective method, at our hospital, in reducing the number of medication errors. we are now almost 100% medication error free.

2rntish · Sep 13, 2004

Part of the learning curve for us was to figure out: the computer can not stop you from giving a med. Give what ever you have to when ever you need to. It is simply a documentation tool with several nice perks that involve pt safety. It never dictates when, how much, where or how we give meds. It might remind you that it is too early, late, no order in system, wrong dose, possible allergy detected...All of these should be looked at but, if in your clinical opinion, the med should be given, give it.

mattsmom81 · Sep 13, 2004

We were written up for bypassing the system and giving the med...we were told we must stop and hand enter at the exact time. I felt like I was doing pharmacy's job for them...(in essence I was as we had to get meds from the SureMed too.)The charge nurse was running off 'hitlists' of nurses each shift who weren't 100% compliant with this, and nurses were getting counseled. Glad its working for some of you...but it sure didn't in MY ICU.

2rntish · Sep 13, 2004

Our ICU went "live" last week. Most of us understood it would be a different animal. The bottom line is give the med to the patient. With our system you can always go back and document the time it was actually given.

It certainly is better to scan initially, let the computer work for you...but not always possible esp in ICU.

Then you have the "hit list" queen that makes you focus more on the computer than on pt care. Kinda sad. Could be a really good system.

We have decided not to print any reports on barcode compliance or possible med errors until we are sure of what we are looking at. And we gave VERY FEW people access to the reports to prevent the problem you mentioned. As time goes by, we will give access to all who need it.

redshiloh · Sep 13, 2004

Hate it, don't trust it...still keep the paper MARs. Way too many bugs.

2rntish · Sep 13, 2004

Hate it, don't trust it...still keep the paper MARs. Way too many bugs.

You still have a worksheet that you work from. All meds are listed along with times that they are due.

C'wing · Sep 18, 2004

I totally love Barcode system as well as BCMA. Personally, i think they're safer and can save nurses a lot of time and med. troubles, except of coz during computer/network breakdown, which we did experience once and had to fall back to paper MARS for a few hrs. :uhoh21:

2rntish · Sep 20, 2004

I think it is a great tool as well. Still don't know how to deal with students.