I need Information

[lane_2008]

I am just starting a home health job. I want to be very organzied when I start. I am just wanting to know if anyone knows of any helpful websites about nursing in home health. Also I am wanting to know what the standards or rules are on supplybags. What kind of bag do you use for your supplies like bp cuff, thermometer, etc.. What kind of lab bag do you use to put all you lab supplies in. Last what kind of bag do you use to carry your charts around. Any information would be helpful!! Thanks

[cookie102]

welcome to HH, staying organized is the biggest key!!

i use a soft sided cooler with a few zippered pockets to carry my lab supplies,,,,extra goes in the trunk,,,,i use either a two sided folder for my chart or a plastic sleeve with info in it and my clipboard that has my schedule so i can tell the patient when the next visit is,,,,,i don't use the nursing bag the company supplies as i find it too big, i have a nice bag that i picked up, has outside pockets , 2 zippered sections,,,i don't carry too much in my bag only the essentials, everything else is either all ready at the patients home (like dressing supplies) or in my trunk if i get somewhere and supplies haven't arrived or for new admission or if i get to the house and find a new problems (skin tear etc)

and i keep extra forms in a hanging folder type thing ,,, never want to run out of something,,,,

hope this helps!

[purpledaisies]

We have to use the company provided bag for our supplies, but I really like it.

We also have a needlebox holder bag on the side that velcros on. We keep the "clean" supplies in the center pocket, and everything else in the 2 outer. There is a slip in on the front for the antibacterial hand gel.

In my car I keep an LL Bean tote with my reference notebook (phone numbers, wound care formulary, extra pens, etc.) and a pad of paper; my lab bag, and a tote with wound care back up supplies.

Hope that helps.

[karmil]

I have a very heavy bag that carries my cpu and supplies. It is on wheels, but I often have to carry it. We are looking into new bags and I would appreciate anyone with a great one to e-mail me photos. Thanks!!

[caliotter3]

None of my employers have supplied me with a bag and none of them require me to carry any supplies other than a supply of blank forms. I use whatever current back pack I have. I used to have one made out of vinyl that only cost about $15 that lasted me for years. I really loved it because it shed water so well. Have never found another one like it.

[annaedRN, RN]

We use the bags by Hopkins...with the 3 section for clean and "not so clean" items. My supervisor said they are looking into a slightly smaller messenger style bag (still with 3 sections).We do all computer charting so I do not need extra forms with me except the occasional labwork form,BIPA or HHABN. I keep most of my supplies in a large plastic storage container in my trunk - I separate things into plastic bags...all catheter stuff in 1 bag, all IV stuff in 1, all general dressing stuff in 1, then a few odds and ends like extra VAC supplies, phlebotomy tubes/butterflies or ostomy supplies(Eakins, paste, skin prep..)..makes them easy to find. Keeping all the extras had saved me numerous trips into the office. Just last night I had to change a foley and fortunately had all the supplies in my box. Made my visit much easier :)

[dmdrn73]

A small plastic tackle box is good for lab supplies. the different size sections are good to separate Alcohol preps, needles, vaccutainers, butterflies, etc. You can get them at K-Mart, Target, etc and they come in all different sizes.