Ideas for ways to save $$ on our unit

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Specializes in Certified Diabetes Educator.

Each unit in our hospital has been challenged to come up with some ideas on how to save money. You know how it is all about the budget and money these days.

Does anyone have any ideas they would care to share?

I thought of all the wound dressing supplies that somehow end up thrown away or sent home with the patients. If there is a good way to cut down on that.

Otherwise, I'm drawing a blank. I could use some help.

Thanks

Charlee RN

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not sure how to save money, but for raising money I've seen units create a cookbook that can be sold

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Specializes in Certified Diabetes Educator.

What a fun idea as another project in the future. We have some great cooks on our unit! Thanks for the idea. You are right, it won't save the hospital money, but I can see where we might use it as a charity project from our unit.

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Specializes in PICU/NICU.

In my hospital, all the supplies that enter the patients room must stay there. So, if someone grabs 50 alcohol wipes, 12 2X2s, ect ect and throws them in the drawer- they will stay where they lay until the pt transfers to the floor. When the room is empty.... we are to take everything left in the room and THROW IT IN THE TRASH! I cannot tell you the rediculous amounts of supplies that are trrown away..... angio caths, alcohol wipes, 2X2s, saline bullets, suction caths, vasiline gauze.... I could go on and on.

It makes my blood boil to go into a room of an intubated kid who was admitted 24 hours ago and find 3 pink wash basins, 2 emisis basins, and a water pitcher! A water pitcher.... come on!

There is just so much waste it is shameful! If the hospital will not change its policy on disposing of unused items then nurses need to be good stewards and not take handfulls of supplies into rooms just in case.

That alone would surely save some bucks!

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In my hospital, all the supplies that enter the patients room must stay there. So, if someone grabs 50 alcohol wipes, 12 2X2s, ect ect and throws them in the drawer- they will stay where they lay until the pt transfers to the floor. When the room is empty.... we are to take everything left in the room and THROW IT IN THE TRASH! I cannot tell you the rediculous amounts of supplies that are trrown away..... angio caths, alcohol wipes, 2X2s, saline bullets, suction caths, vasiline gauze.... I could go on and on.

It makes my blood boil to go into a room of an intubated kid who was admitted 24 hours ago and find 3 pink wash basins, 2 emisis basins, and a water pitcher! A water pitcher.... come on!

There is just so much waste it is shameful! If the hospital will not change its policy on disposing of unused items then nurses need to be good stewards and not take handfulls of supplies into rooms just in case.

That alone would surely save some bucks!

The same thing happens at my hospital. The DON advised us to only give patients toiletries only if they ask for it. I guess I'm the only who does that because I'll go and strip room and see 10 small bottles of body wash, 2 basins, toothbrush, toothpaste, footies, deoderant, etc- and NOTHING WAS USED AND IT ALL HAS TO BE THROWN AWAY. A different hospital in the area charges patients for toiletries. I"m sure if patient's were charged for toiletries they would think twice.

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Specializes in Certified Diabetes Educator.
In my hospital, all the supplies that enter the patients room must stay there. So, if someone grabs 50 alcohol wipes, 12 2X2s, ect ect and throws them in the drawer- they will stay where they lay until the pt transfers to the floor. When the room is empty.... we are to take everything left in the room and THROW IT IN THE TRASH! I cannot tell you the rediculous amounts of supplies that are trrown away..... angio caths, alcohol wipes, 2X2s, saline bullets, suction caths, vasiline gauze.... I could go on and on.

It makes my blood boil to go into a room of an intubated kid who was admitted 24 hours ago and find 3 pink wash basins, 2 emisis basins, and a water pitcher! A water pitcher.... come on!

There is just so much waste it is shameful! If the hospital will not change its policy on disposing of unused items then nurses need to be good stewards and not take handfulls of supplies into rooms just in case.

That alone would surely save some bucks!

This is exactly what is happening at our hospital. That is why I'm trying to think of a way to cut down on this waste.

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Specializes in Surgery, Tele, OB, Peds,ED-True Float RN.

We put a box at the nursing station so the nurses can empty their pockets before they leave the hospital. We load up our pockets with alcohol wipes, syringes, tape etc. and we end up going home with all of it. The ward clerk checks the box every few shifts and puts all the unused supplies back in the stock. I thought it would be silly but I was surprised at how much stuff we accidentally take home.

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Specializes in CMSRN.

I always ask the pt what do they need.. I do not ever get toiletries in advance. I do not even get a wash basin in advance. Some a/o pts who are observation do not even need it.

It is those small things.

Also, even though linens are chargable, I am conservative in dispersing. Meaning I do no bring a full set of sheets in the room until I see that they do not already have some. I find there can be a stack of them already and bring in more. They end up in soiled linen bag. It can save the hospital money that way by not having so much soiled (or lack there of) linens cleaned.

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Specializes in Certified Diabetes Educator.

Wow, these are ALL awesome ideas!

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