Ice machine use in hospitals

[olcroner]

I'm looking for hospital policies about the use of ice machines. In particular, filling new or refilling ice bags used on patients. I told a student that ice bags should not be filled from the ice machines directly. New, and especially, used ice bags. She argue, adamantly, that new can be filled directly from the ice machine. I looking for something to say it's safer to fill them from a separate container.

[mrsboots87]

The point is that if a family member is going to bring contaminated items out of a room, it is not likely to be encouraged because a nurse filled a bag directly from the ice machine. With the hands free ice machines, they have that sensor. When holding the clean bag under the ice Shute, it doesn't actually have to touch anything. Then when going to a patient, it is explained that they should not refill items from the room and just to ask for new cups and ice bags.

A stressed out family member or patient who will forget and leave the room, will do it regardless of if they see a nurse filling an ice bag directly or not. As long as the nurse isn't diddling the ice machine with dirty hands, everything will be just fine.

[Cdnbscn]

Do you suggest flogging them into submission or trying to educated them to do the right thing?

So based on this quote and the fact that you are an instructor.... I'm sorry, help me out here.... Although, you may have to climb down off your high horse to give me the rationale on it since you aren't aware of your hospital policy.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I don't think it's about the ice going into the bag but about using a non-contaminated container to keep the ice machine free of contamination. That way families don't see staff filling clean non-contaminated ice bags, and then decide that it's okay to fill all ice bags directly from the ice machine and contaminate the ice machine with patient room germs. Then have those germs spread to everyone who puts ice in their water.

It may not seem like a big deal but hospital families are under stress and can forget basic infection control issues, like not bringing potentially CDAD or MRSA containing items out of patient room. I'm sure if our facility had an accessible ice machine some families would have brought ice bags out of infection risk rooms to refill with out second thought.

In my facility this wasn't an issue. The ice machine was in an area accessible only to staff. We'd happily fill up containers of ice for patient or family use. I'm sure it generated a lot of waste because we'd run ice into disposable pitcher liners or other approved containers, but contaminated pitchers, personal cups, and dirty ice bags never made it anywhere near the machine.

For the life of my career, I have always run ice into a liner or a cup and cut out another small cup to place ice in reusable containers such as an ice pack-even initially be used it was impossible for all the ice to make the bag and I would make a mess like a toddler most of the time.

It was always stressed to prevent inadvertent cross contamination as much as possible-with the ever increasing HAIs making their way into the community, as well as the resurgence of preventable (vaccinated) infections and diseases (*cough cough* Pertussis and Mumps has returned to my community and we are up to 6 confirmed cases in the past MONTH at my facility) I try to be mindful of those possibilities. I work in a setting where our pantries are locked, and I do refill container with disposable cups to prevent cross contamination as mush as possible-even for my own container from home.

OP, explain to your student factually and professionally that we always have the ability to cross contaminate, and the best practice of health promotion is to use a system to prevent that when refilling reusable items-not just "because I said so"; it makes you look less credible as an instructor, and may affect your relationship and credibility as an instructor with this student and other students (because nursing students TALK-you know?)

[MaxAttack, BSN, RN]

I am the instructor. So it's just because I say so.

Do you suggest flogging them into submission or trying to educated them to do the right thing?

And only four posts. Can we stop feeding the troll now?

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

I fill directly from the ice machine. Is this a case of a student stepping on your toes?

[verene, MSN]

The point is that if a family member is going to bring contaminated items out of a room, it is not likely to be encouraged because a nurse filled a bag directly from the ice machine. With the hands free ice machines, they have that sensor. When holding the clean bag under the ice Shute, it doesn't actually have to touch anything. Then when going to a patient, it is explained that they should not refill items from the room and just to ask for new cups and ice bags.

A stressed out family member or patient who will forget and leave the room, will do it regardless of if they see a nurse filling an ice bag directly or not. As long as the nurse isn't diddling the ice machine with dirty hands, everything will be just fine.

I'm sure if the ice machine is publicly accessible families will do whatever. However staff have a much easier time redirecting the behavior if there is a sign that says "no patient care items please" and a big stack of liners, cups, or other approved containers for ice, plus it spares the whole "But I saw the nurse do it" angle when educating.

I get that in a hands free device you don't have to touch anything and it could be just fine, but if someone doesn't know that it is hands free because they aren't familiar with it, germs could still be rubbed everywhere while they figure it out.

[TriciaJ, RN]

Does the hospital have an Infection Control department? What's their take?

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

I can't believe I just read (well, mostly skimmed) 30 posts about the policy on how to fill an ice pack.

This issue seems like a pimple on the elephant's butt compared with "real" infection control issues R/T families and visitors.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

This issue seems like a pimple on the elephant's butt compared with "real" infection control issues R/T families and visitors.

Eh...not so much of a pimple when pts are immunocompromised or have conditions and are vulnerable; hands are the highest mode of transmission and most of the public rarely or inadequately wash their hands (cold water no soap). I'm more mindful of it, especially when to compound that most people don't follow up with basic re vaccinations or the other vaccination issue-not trying to go there...however, I don't know of a hospital policy on this, and the OP may have to pick their battles on this one or be more creative in trying to promote potential cross contamination.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

I can't believe I just read (well, mostly skimmed) 30 posts about the policy on how to fill an ice pack.

This issue seems like a pimple on the elephant's butt compared with "real" infection control issues R/T families and visitors.

Think about it.. you are placing a USED ice bag onto the lip of an ice machine.. think there just might be cross contamination? You know the ones that are placed in armpits or groins.

The ice dispenser now has so many cooties.. each and every cube now sliding out is now CONTAMINATED.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

I_am_embarrassed_that_it_took_a_CNA_to_point_out_the_0bvious....thanks,verene

[ClaraRedheart, BSN, RN]

With ours, family cannot go into our nutrition room. I'd use a new bag with the ice machine. We waste enough Styrofoam cups refilling blue mugs, used ice bags, etc. Why not save a Styrofoam tree when you have the chance? A new bag won't get anything dirty.