I Threw Away Your Drink

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Aug 10, 2007

I chuckled when I saw the title of this thread.... my last NM was tired of telling all of us we had to have a lid on all drinks at the nurses stations, and NO FOOD. She kept finding our stashes of crackers and candies in the "secret" drawers. It was because JCAHO was due any year now, and we all understood. It's funny, because our medical director was always leaving half filled coffee cups around. He'd be rounding, set it down, and forget where he left it. So he'd just go and pour another one. We'd all laugh at the 4-6 coffee cups sitting on all the counters!

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Aug 10, 2007

I was told that OSHA requires that STAFF have no OPEN drinks or food in patient care areas. Where exactly are the true patient care areas? Think that depends on management interpretation. And, how come patients can have open beverages and food in the very same areas staff cannot?

I think you're correct whether it be OSHA or JACCHO (?). We are allowed to have drinks and food out as long as it's on the desk, not up on the ledge, and as long as it's labeled. If were expecting a "visit" we put everything away. One rule they really enforce is no open containers in the refrigerator.