How do you secure crash carts?

CathyLew · Mar 9, 2009

we use breakaway plastic red locks also.

strange thing, the facility doesn't allow extra red locks anywhere. You have to get them from the pharmacy. even though if you use one the numbers change. they don't want them arround on the floors.

flightnurse2b, LPN · Mar 9, 2009

ours are also the red numbered locks. when the lock is broken and the cart is used, there is a blue lock in the top drawer that replaces it after we are finished using the cart... that way pharmacy knows that the cart has been cracked.

i don't see too much of a need for a keyed lock or combination lock on the cart itself. our narcotics/hypnotics/paralytics are kept seperately. whoever is the lead nurse on the code team that evening is responsible for removing them from the lock box.

NeoNurseTX, RN · Mar 9, 2009

we also use the breakaway locks for the meds...a normal key/lock for the supplies. the key is kept on the cart.

FlyingScot, RN · Mar 10, 2009

Red breakaway locks. I can't imagine having a keyed lock for any of the supplies given my experience with stuff not being replaced where it belongs. Cripes we couldn't even keep the blood pressure cuffs THAT WERE NUMBERED for each room in place. Kudos to you who do have keyed locks and the keys stay where they belong. :bow:

Aneroo, LPN · Mar 10, 2009

Red ones.

We'd be screwed if we had real locks.

med/oncRN · Mar 10, 2009

The facility I work at doesn't have locks on the carts. However, all contents in the drug drawer & respiratory drawers are sealed/dated. No narcotics in drawers, just ACLS drugs. We do check it every shift. It is crazy, but I have seen people take things to use such as BP cuffs, dopplers. That is a real no-no, taking things from the crash cart. All the other facilities I worked at had the numbered break-away locks. After a code, we call pharmacy & central to restock what we need.

hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN · Mar 10, 2009

I'm not exactly sure what our ER does, but any time we call a code in ICU, a representative from pharmacy and a representative from central supply respond to it. They work together to replace/restock the cart, and they're the only ones with the quicklocks that fit it.

In all honesty, we rarely even break into it as we have separate, smaller airway boxes we use far more often for intubations. These boxes get immediate blue tags, with an inventory of what was used filled out and signed by the charge nurse and then sent to pharmacy for replace/restock.

htrn · Mar 11, 2009

Thanks for all of your responses. Looks like state is insisting that our crash carts and any other storage units that hold meds, syringes, needles, etc... be secured with a tamper proof (pt. can't get into) lock. Any of those storage units that are not under constant direct supervision of staff must be locked - meaning if the privacy curtain is pulled, the unit must be locked.

Heads up - may be coming to a hospital near you. Looks like we don't have any choice.

FlyingScot, RN · Mar 11, 2009

We pulled all that stuff out of the c-lockers in the patient rooms about 8 or 9 years ago. All needles and syringes are in the med room which is a card swipe. The crash carts that are locked with red locks are considered "tamper proof'" because it is obvious when they've been uh..."tampered" with. Plus the carts are placed kind of out of the way in the back corner of the trauma rooms (rooms are huge). Is the state requiring your facility to have actual locks on them? That's asking for a disaster in my opinion. Unless you go with the ones that have electronic locks you punch a code into to unlock.

htrn · Mar 11, 2009

Hey Scott - they aren't asking, they are telling us if we don't they WILL site us. We are expecting an inspection any day now, so we are going with combination luggage locks with combos we will all remember. Those carts that come with the touch pad codes are $2500 at least and we are a VERY small hospital - basically $10K to replace our crash carts with the touch pad combo carts is a whole lot of money. Luggage locks are only a couple of bucks.

It seems to me it is an unfunded mandate by people that don't do or haven't done bedside nursing in a very long time. :banghead: Especially since we have never, ever had a problem with the carts being tampered with.

FlyingScot, RN · Mar 11, 2009

Wow! I'd hate to be in your shoes when the proverbial s--- hits the fan! Hmmm...let's think of a combination that everyone will remember. I know, how about "911"!!!! Like the patient/visitor who really wants in the cart isn't going to figure that one out. LOL. What a nightmare!