No nursing station with COWS?

cargalrn · Dec 26, 2009

I agree with the above poster. The station is the hub.....

Up2nogood RN, RN · Dec 26, 2009

I am on a newly designed unit that is decentralized. Computer monitors mounted at each pt bedside help to do real time charting along with barcode scanner making it safer for med administration. We have alcoves between each pt room where there's also the charts and drawer for ISO equipment. We don't have a central station but 3 sub stations along with 3 med rooms assigned to certain pt rooms near them. The charge sits at the front substation as it can be seen when visitors walk in. Our pt rooms are all in a circle with our equipment storage, dietary kitchens, and substations in the middle. Almost every patient and family comment on how quiet it is compared to the design of the older part of the hospital. It really is quieter without a nurses station which help makes it a calmer atmosphere. When I'm not at the bedside I'm in a substation near my pt rooms where there are more computers and tele screens that I can monitor. I wish all the units can be set up like this in the hospital. We have supplies kept in the room so there really isn't a lot of wasted time looking for stuff.

Zookeeper3 · Dec 27, 2009

A seperate table and computer work station for all the physicians who log me off, leave their coffee that I get blamed for and loose my data sheets. Better yet, give each MD only one cow to push around to see each patient. Leave the nursing station for the nurses

SusanKathleen, RN · Dec 27, 2009

Do not take away my nursing station - phone calls to docs - to other units - to ED - etc - grouped tele monitors- greeting/communicating with people entering the unit, including RT, OT, PT, etc. It's an important place for communication.

Just a quick side note - we had to change the name of our COWs to WOWs (WiFi on Wheels), b/c someone complained about the name COW, suggesting that it was a "mean" name.

cargalrn · Dec 27, 2009

I appreciate everyone's input. I think a change is coming soon, with designers and directors with no nursing experience dictating the environment.

Up2nogood RN, RN · Dec 28, 2009

So I had to float the other night to the 'old' part of the hospital. What a cluster #%*^ that was! I realize why so many bad things happen at night. All my patients were in the back hall, no computers, or station. I was a complete wreck by the end of the night and hated sitting up at the 'nurses station' when I had some confused patients with bed alarms on but by the time anyone could run down the hall to them the patient was already out of bed. Good grief what a wonderful floor design.