New facility no med cart allowed

Specialties Geriatric

Published

I just started working at a new facility just opened, skilled long term,they are not allowing us to push the med cart or a cart period and we have filled individual boxes locked in rooms with prescribed medications. However there is not enough floor stock Of colace and vitamins for each box so we have them in labeled baggies in the boxes that we made. We can't exactly carry the bottles room to room either. Does anyone know the proper way to dispense these without a med cart? We also do not have a computer to carry around only printed med list, our computer dies if you unplug it. Is it ok to initial next to medication on paper? I would ask someone but they don't answer me I don't think anyone knows. The owner just wants the halls clear of anything including med carts. He doesn't even want dispensers so we have no Purell dispensers and have told him it's state law to put them in! Really just concerned for my license and med administration. Thanks for input. I'm carrying my own Purell and soap cause we don't have any soap dispensers either. We just opened a week ago and we have patients (10) they are promising to fix these after we complained.

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This place has red flags all over it. I'd be looking for a new job. No sanitizer or soap? Meds in baggies and boxes? Infection control and safety risks.

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Specializes in Oncology.

I'm more concerned about the lack of soap than med cart. Did they open before they were done building?

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When I was doing agency I was at one place (and it was actually a really nicely run facility) that didn't have med carts. They had locked cabinets in each of the patients meds in the patients room itself. There was one key that opened all the cabinets. If all the locked boxes are in each room and the baggies are in each room and your not going room to room carrying them then not sure what the issue is. We have meds labeled from pharmacy in individual tiny little bags for certain meds at my current job. EACH pill is in one bag though not just a bag full of pills and I would suggest that if that's not the case. If there isn't a box stored for each patient in each room then I would suggest that and could see that being a problem.

As far as hand sanitizer I have been to plenty of facilities that do not have installed wall hand sanitizers - especially ones trying to provide a home like environment. What they do have is bottles of hand sanitizers available at the nurses station or that you can carry in your pocket. A lot of the nurses I see just carry one of those clip on pocket hand sanitzers to their uniform. You can refill it with the hand sanitizer provided by the facility.

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Maybe one of the mods can move this to the Geriatric/ LTC forum for more responses?

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Specializes in Oncology.

"Home environment" be darned when it comes to hygiene. There's a lot of evidence that putting the dispensers right in front of people's noses ensures that they're used.

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Ah yes, the new trend in LTC of "This is a medical facility but needs to look like a person's home". Insert eyeroll. I loved my residents in LTC and feel they deserve a comfortable surrounding but with the ever increasing acuity of LTC patients, it's not ever going to be like a home. You still need infection control, stock meds, etc. I worked in a facility that had the meds in the rooms but we had a stock cabinet as well for OTC meds or a stock of it in their personal med cabinent. We had a rolling desk for our computers that also contained a sharps bin, med administration supplies, etc. The owner needs to realize he isn't running a hotel for 65+, he is running a long term MEDICAL care facility.

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I think that's where the confusion is where I work, it used to be only ltc they just added rehab skilled which is my unit, and that's why I feel they need the basic precautions in place. The biggest concern for me right now is our computer doesn't travel to give meds and our printer won't print the med list so right now we're writing them down and taking them to the rooms. They do have lock boxes with their meds in them but missing some meds that I have to retrieve from the med room and walk to the room. But I almost walked out yesterday due to being promised a working computer and not having one. It's the most beautiful facility you've ever seen but the owners won't supply the basic things. I am applying for jobs today . It's a med error waiting to happen.

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I think that's where the confusion is where I work, it used to be only ltc they just added rehab skilled which is my unit, and that's why I feel they need the basic precautions in place. The biggest concern for me right now is our computer doesn't travel to give meds and our printer won't print the med list so right now we're writing them down and taking them to the rooms. They do have lock boxes with their meds in them but missing some meds that I have to retrieve from the med room and walk to the room. But I almost walked out yesterday due to being promised a working computer and not having one. It's the most beautiful facility you've ever seen but the owners won't supply the basic things. I am applying for jobs today . It's a med error waiting to happen.

RUN. Wow, not even a written MAR to bring to the room. I bought a home office cannon fax/printer/scanner for under $100 at Office Depot a couple of years ago. The owner needs to just buy one that works.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Am a dinosaur here, but as I remember it from ancient eons ago, brand new facilities used to be surveyed by State very quickly after opening and as they expanded their census. Perhaps an anonymous word to cue them into the asinine things you've got going on there might be in order.

Perhaps if you're 'corporately' owned, a word to them might help also.

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I quit today, I cried today! I had no choice. It was hard to do. I actually left in middle of the day when they were insisting I sign papers saying I was trained on stuff I wasn't and my LPN disappeared on me all day wasn't even giving her meds. I went to the manager said I was leaving find coverage I'm leaving! I'm devastated right now. Even though I was only there a short time it sucks.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Please tell me you didn't leave before coverage could be found...

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