medical supplies

[krayolaRN]

Hi I am new to home health as a RN Supervisor. I had an issue with a field RN recently stating it is not his responsibility to carry basic supplies with him (for simple wound care, etc) as they can be temperature sensitive and thought his car was not a proper way for storage. So he wants the office to send, even basic gauze, tape, betadine swabs, to the patient's house each time. I, however, feel that as a home health nurse, that is the responsibility to carry basic supplies, although I do see his point to some extent. What is the standard practice for field nurses? Is there real concern for temperatures, etc? Is there a proper way to store supplies in the car to avoid this issue?

[LaRN]

I keep a few basic supplies: small wound cleanser, or single use normal saline, one pack of 4 x4's , 2 or 3 kerlix, and some tape. basically anything I can fit into a small/med size box. but some nurses dont ....and i can understand that b/c before u know it, your car looks like you're running a clinic out of it. and most ppl with kids/family dont need additional items to clutter their car

most all companies have supplies shipped to their patient. it makes more sense. at one time we used to bring all supplies, diapers, catheters.......and it can get ridiculous ......we're nurses not fed ex.

[MiriamCarney]

Yes, your car can get supply ridden but every month or so I reorganize. I have never heard of going to a patients home WITHOUT supplies. I am thankful for Doctors Choice supplying me with almost everything I could possibly need while in a patients home. It makes my job as a nurse much easier and it is good for the patients well being/healthcare. Miriam

[LaRN]

I think OP is talking about the nurses delivering patient specific wound care, ordered wound care. home health nurses have enough to carry along with them. have to go to the office, look/hunt for the supplies you need, then load them up, then UNLOAD them at the patients house and put everything where it belongs.....and many times realizing that you forgot something, or the box flipped over in the car, scattering everything and mixing them up with other supplies. this adds too much unnecessary time spent on a visit especially when the nurse is pay per visit. having them shipped to the patient guarantees that they will have what they need. nurses call in, schedules change, pt's are sometimes not home., ect. but you get the drift, have those supplies delivered.

carrying a few basic supplies for any new wounds is no problem. but i'm not a pack mule.

[tktjRN]

All the nurses, at my agency, carry a bin of supplies in our trunks. Our supply room is locked at all times so if we need something after hours or on weekends we're out of luck. We leave enough supplies for at least 2 dressing changes, then we order the rest. My agency prefers that we take basic supplies like gauze, Betadine and skin prep, from supply closet, to give to patients because of shipping fees. But the other responses are correct about the supplies in the trunk. I do have to empty the trunk every time I go shopping!

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I work primarily with children so don't have to deal with this medicare nonsense of all supplies needing to come from the agency. If my patients have specific wound care ordered, they have a supply company that delivers the ordered supplies to their home. More commonly, my patients are on enterals and IV therapy and they have an infusion pharmacy that provides all of those supplies. The only supplies I really have to bring on my own are for lab draws.