Laundry Bins

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

I've been at a multitude of facilities. In every facility we've used laundry bins on wheels...a triple bin...two for laundry, one for trash. At my new facility they're telling me it's against infection control rules. I find nothing in the policy prohibiting this and it seems better to have a receptacle close by so they don't have to carry dirty laundry/trash down the halls.

Any one ??

[TwoLayi, ADN, BSN, RN]

The two faclities I have worked at we have had individual bins on wheels, that were stored together. It could be infection control because people might accidentally put garbage in the laundry. That would happen all the time at my last facility because the laundry bin and trash bin looked almost identical.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

I looked down the hall and saw 4 housekeeping carts in the hall. If those are allowed then I think these linen carts will be okay.

[vampiregirl, BSN, RN]

I know I've worked several places where we were required to bag all laundry prior to leaving the rooms but everywhere I've worked we've always had the bins on wheels. I've never seen the triple bin though - I always seen separate bins. Either different colored for trash/ laundry or the lids clearly labeled.

[caliotter3]

The only thing policy wise about those bins that I remember was that we would be reminded before survey time that we were not to take the bins into the rooms IIRC.

[Nascar nurse, ASN, RN]

We still use bins. Typically they get put away after AM care to keep the halls free of obstacles.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

This building has been without true leadership for a long time. The new team (myself included) are basically starting from square one with so many things that come as second nature to those of us who've been in the business for any length of time.

[punkdmm, BSN, RN]

We have not allowed trash/linen carts in the hallways for years. They must be kept in the soiled utility room. I think partly infection control and part so that they wouldn't be considered "stored" in the hallway.