flu season

CaliNurse · Sep 29, 2002

Hi Karen,

No we do it to here in the states. We start October 15th. This is the first year in many that we have had them this early in stock waiting for us. They come from the east coast of the U.S. for us and last year it was late nov. when I started.

We do the staff and patients. For me honestly it is a break from normal duties.

Good luck,

Cali

jode · Sep 29, 2002

We also vaccinate for the flu and pneumonia. I posted the web site for the National Pneumonia Project in another thread. I am fighting a very tight budget right now, but the community and the hospital volunteer groups vaccinate thousands. http://www.nationalpneumonia.org

http://www.immunize.org

karenG · Sep 30, 2002

well, I dont mind doing the vacc- just that I dont have time to talk to my patients and I am such a gossip! been with the same practice for 14yrs so know all my patients well and some I only see once a year and do like to catch up with them!!

we (in my practice) are not doing the pneumonia vacc this yr- the evidence suggests that it makes no difference to morbidity/mortality in the elderly- on Bandolier but cant remember the address. so we have opted out. makes life a bit easier!

glad to know we are all in the same boat!!

Karen

whipping girl in 07, RN · Sep 30, 2002

One of my clinicals in my last semester of nursing school was giving flu shots at the mall for the American Lung Association. Talk about experience with IM injections. I think I had given maybe 3 up until that point, and I gave about 40 that day! Had to treat myself to a mini-spree at Bath & Body Works to reward myself for all that work!

adrienurse, LPN · Sep 30, 2002

I was a bad girl last year. I had 2 bad colds in succession, and missed out on the flushot. I kept forgetting to ask for it after I was better. I will get it this year, I promise.

June55Baby · Sep 30, 2002

The hospital where I work is involved in the CMS National Pneumonia Project. One of the quality indicators is "Patient screened for and/or given Pneumonia & Influenza Vaccine". We do a great job screening, but that's where it ends. If the patient hasn't been vaccinated or doesn't know.... nothing happens.

I brought samples of Standing Orders for Pneumonia & Influenza Vaccines to a recent Medical Staff meeting and was shot down. One MD said that immunizations should be given in the physician's office not in the hospital to patients who are already ill. The Cheif Nursing Officer said her nurses didn't have time to screen and vaccinate and she wouldn't support it until JCAHO required it!

Any ideas on how to increase our numbers of patients vaccinated when there is no support from physicians or nursing administration?

sjoe · Sep 30, 2002

June--See if there is a local clinic or agency somewhere nearby that provides this service and refer clients to it. I don't see that you have other options at this point.

("We do a great job screening but that's where it ends."--well, at least your hospital's PAPERWORK looks healthy!) LOL.

jode · Oct 1, 2002

June55baby, I too am working with the National Pne project. Now you know you are working with a gov't project when they start a campaign called immunize America 2010 and then cut reimbursement to physicians for vaccination. Yep. Gotta love the govt. My problem is not the physicians as they are DELIGHTED to have the hospital vaccinate the patients. Its getting into the budget. Sigh. Its an up hill battle. Good luck to you. I struggle every single day with abx protocol, and getting nurses to screen. Seems I get one side up and the other falls down. Or the ALOS goes up for the month!!! Wah Wah Wah. LOL Feels good to vent! Again, good luck!

jode · Oct 1, 2002

June 55, Feel free to message me...we can knock our heads together and maybe some new ideas will fall out!