Help!!!Accesses covered compliance

[dialysisnursenola]

A year ago I began teaching staff and patients about the safety concern of covered accesses. I've tried various auditing methods. Anyone have any tips on improving compliance from staff and patients in this area???

[nossawja, BSN, RN]

When I was a clinical educator, I always used the story of the patient I had who's venous needle dislodged. He was sleeping and covered in a navy blue blanket. The machine ran for a while before the air caused the venous pressure alarm. With the dark blanket, even with clinicians fairly close, we couldn't tell it was saturated with blood and with the blood pump continuing for so long, he exsanguinated and died.

The patients may not care, but the staff sure should see how dangerous it can be. Good luck with improving compliance!

[Zeek, LPN]

I have had the same thing happen - hence the need to have them uncovered. A few years ago a unit in my state was cited and had to complete a huge plan of correction AND a second site survey due to this issue. I don't like dealing with surveyors at the best of times so a second visit might be a way to get patient and staff compliance. I start with staff, but also put signs up for the patients letting them know why we are focusing on this. Make it a monthly education topic type of thing. I wish you well - sometimes the only way things change is when a problem occurs.

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

I don't know which company you work for, but it's policy where I work which means staff must abide, pt will have education and documentation out the wazoo. My friend that works for the competitor says they have pretty much the same policy...

[Twinmom06, ASN, APN]

the policy is the same everywhere, don't cover the access, most pt's are "cold" and don't care, they cover up when you walk away. Uncover, recover, ad nauseum. I educate them constantly in the hospita to no avail.