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.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Feeling the pain. Now, we must be politically correct in our attempts to guide a new generation.

Would love to see you start a weekly thread like Ixchel's. "What I learned this week." It would be more like... what I tried to teach this week.

[olcroner]

Thank you joleneliddell. That information is very helpful. I have been talking with several infection control nurses and they agree it is a problem to monitor ice machines and they also stated many hospitals are moving to the chemical packs. Thanks again.

[CardiacDork, MSN, RN]

We're arguing about filling a bag at the ice machine. Can you imagine if our colleagues saw these discussions? Can we please discuss something else?

note: I understand there's a whole underlying infection control issue but the bickering about instructor-student relationship plus the use of an ice machine is just professionally sophomoric.

[sevensonnets]

Hooray for CardiacDork!!! 6 pages about a bag and an ice machine is about 5 and a half pages too many! We are too easily stirred into a frenzy over nothing.

[cyndy50]

Our we have the ice machines with closed doors. We also do not heat any food at all for anyone. And we only take stuff into rooms, we never remove anything out of rooms. We can refill a new bag, but every time a patient asks for a bag we have to get a new one. Just policy.

[GinnyMi]

An ice bag that has been sitting on or near a fresh

surgical site, or not so fresh infected site? Then filling water pitchers from the same ice machine? This is a problem!

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

We do not use pitchers anymore, we have a water/ice dispenser where a new cup/lid/straw is used each time. We also have a separate industrial ice bin that makes ice to fill polar cares and ice bags-we do not use this ice for consumption

[simbawicz]

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

I think it depends on the student. : )

[Malenurse1235954]

Sorry, I agree with the student. Did you find a policy or any research supporting your rationale?