Expired, Mislabled, Unlabed Medical Device, Information Missing in Report or Chart

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hello Fellow RN,

I have been having issues finding documentation when medical devices are started in the charting as well as on the medical device from time to time. Sometimes the device such as tubing is not labeled and have to throw it away and start all over. I have also seen nurses label tubing they did not start nor really know when it started. Finding when a foley was started if it was not documented can be a bear to find or impossible taking away time from patient care. I even leave and have not labeled correctly just because of all the interruptions, time constraints or just forget. I do not consider myself a sloppy RN but I am human and so are my co-workers. No one is to blame, but the environment and resources available can be limiting. Even computer charting has its limits. Does anyone else have these issues? What advice can you give? Are you running into this situation?

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

can you bring it up at a staff meeting? maybe together, everyone can come up with a solution that works...

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Specializes in home health, dialysis, others.

There absolutely needs to be a note about when a foley was placed. Maybe use a permanent marker near the connection? Does your facility have a policy already in place that is not being used? Check on it!

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Yes we have had meetings about this but the consistency is well.....lacking.

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Also the up time on a infusion bag is rarely placed on the bags. Is this optional or is it a standard?

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

Even if it's "required" that doesn't mean it happens, so if you meet with whoever's in charge, ask about some sort of consequence for not following the protocol....OR, what works even better, is some sort of reward for doing it, for a period of time, to get people into the habit. If the positive doesn't work, then the negative...

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Then comes the interpersonal plays. I have a co worker who has not spoken to me for 2 years for reporting an issue needing addressed.

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