Is it right for home health nurses to not clean the suction machine?

[diannaliu, BSN]

I am a pediatric home health nurse and my patient requires a ton of suctioning every singe day. I always clean the suction machine at the end of my shift every day. However, I heard from mom that the other nurse who takes care of him hasn't ever cleaned the suction machine and it is always mom who ends up cleaning it. Is that right? I always thought and believe that cleaning all the medical equipment is part of our job as home health nurses. It is hard for me to swallow mom having to pick up the slack of the other nurse because I know how much mom is dealing with already. Please let me know what you think and whether I am just being too much of a critic on this issue.

[caliotter3]

It is appropriate, and most agencies require, that the suction machine be left clean at the end of each shift. Many agencies have a checklist that includes this activity. Since it is also an infection control issue, one would think that even the lazy nurse would want to prevent illness for the patient. Most lazy nurses get away with leaving the machine at various stages of “green and full” because a conscientious nurse like yourself will come along behind them and do part of their job. Discuss this with your nursing supervisor. That is what s/he is there for. Provide teaching to the parent (clean after every 8 hr shift) and document this teaching. Inform the parent to discuss this with the supervisor if it is not being done. Then back off and allow everybody involved to accept their own level of responsibility.