Hoarding resources

[jay082]

Err.. so this is just a bit of a rant, but am I the only person that notice other RNs hoarding equipment that should be shared?

My last shift, I needed a portable computer for an admission, and the only working on was in a room with a computer that doesnt always work. The nurse for the room made a huge deal about me using it even though she did not have a need for it at the moment, and I was willing to return it, even though it belongs in the hall. I had 2 rooms where the computer didn't always work, so everytime I needed it, it was a huge ordeal.

This same shift, my new admit was a Spanish only speaking patient, and when I went for the translator phone, sure enough it was in that same room with the portable computer. So I tell her, I need to use the translator phone, her response, "Well my patient doesn't speak English."

HELLO!! why do you think I need it? ERRR

Then she tells me to be sure to return it.

And I can go on and on. The nurses on my floor regularly hoard things. Some nurses will take the multiple use humalog bottle and carry it in their pocket ALL SHIFT!! Ill be like hey, do you have the humalog, and they'll be like yeah but I have 4 accu checks. Well so do I. It just gets really old having to bargain with people for things that they feel belong to them for the shift.

Do any of you have similar issues?

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

I think you're going to find lots of similar issues. It's because the facilities aren't willing to pony up the dough to have adequate, working resources available. So of course, if a nurse needs something, they're going to do their best to ensure they have it.

[Adele_Michal7, ASN, RN]

Doesn't each patient have their own insulin bottle?

Everyone I know hoards things, but they share, too.

I hoard size large gloves, but I share.

We should do a "What Do You Hoard" thread.

[pixiestudent2]

Sounds like your facility doesn't have enough supplies..... Each nurse gets a computer on wheels, stocked with supplies and insulin at my facility... The only thing I see nurses. Hoard are pill crushers lol they all seem to disappear.

[Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN]

PENS.

I work in the UK in a unit that is all paper charting, so this is extra special aggravating.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

In my neck of the woods, insulin needs to stay refridgerated. So we would get into hot water if it was in our pocket for the shift.

Is there some other way of doing a language line? A pain in the butt, but can you use the room phone and do a pass back and forth? Can you get an in person translator? Running amok finding a specific phone just seems to waste time.

And I would make sure a repair request, incident report is put in each time a computer in a room doesn't work. Daily if you have to. If nothing else, it will show that there is equipment that is available, just not working.

WOW's are a huge issue in that because the rooms have computers in them, the portable ones are usually hoarded from other departments!! So you have nurses who are roaming units looking for equipment. Sad state of affairs.

It may not do one thing, but bring it to your manager "I have put in repair requests for 3 computers in 3 rooms that do not work. We have one WOW on the floor. What is your suggestion?" (and I guarantee that you have an IT department!) Or, "what is your suggestion if we have multi patients on the floor who are non English speaking? May I access the language line on the room phone, or do you have another thought about this?"

Pens and alcohol pads are huge hoarding treasures....until such time as one puts through the washer and the dryer said items......THEN pockets are emptied prior to leaving the facility.....and google is speedily accessed to see how one gets ink stains out of a dryer.....oh, perhaps that is just me...

[NOADLS]

Only 1-3 RN's working per shift where I am at, so none of that unnecessary drama!

I often see this with CNA's though. Sometimes one of them will ask me if they can "store" [box of gloves, stack of towels] in the charge nurse office.

[Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN]

I experience that sometimes with the accucheck machine. One nurse has two accuchecks to do, but insists on carrying the thing around for two hours until they've managed to get them both done. Most of us are a bit more fluid and pass the thing back and forth. I've gotten to the point where I just take it when I work with a hoarder, though ...unless it's in their hand, I don't consider it "in use".

[sjalv]

Every room on my unit has a computer at the bedside, so no issue with portable computers. Nurses on our unit don't seem to 'hoard', really. If a patient has hourly blood sugars because they are on an insulin drip, I don't see a problem with keeping a glucometer in the room. Same if they're a post-heart cath patient with keeping a doppler in the room to dopple pedal pulses.

[GoldenRoya]

Not among the nursing staff, but our central supply folks seem to have gotten into the habit of hoarding stuff, especially over the weekends. Little things, not so important... like saline flushes...and alligator clips...and gloves...and chux. Because if Central Supply gave it away, the floors would use them! And they wouldn't have any left in central supply! The horror!