now what.

[pm2rn]

so the powers upstairs have now put out a policy stating we are no longer allowed to have any drinks at the nurses station. They claim it is a "work pt area". We have to keep all drinks in the break room. Like 12 hours are enough, now no drinks. How are pt's allowed to eat and drink in their room then? just a thought.

[llg, PhD, RN]

My hospital instituted a similar policy many years ago. A compromise was reached for nurses who were unable to go to the break room easily. A special area (a box, actually) was designated at the desk in which drinks could be placed. The drinks have to be kept in enclosed containers (e.g. "sippy cups" or ones with straws, etc.) ... and people can't "sit around and drink them continuously." They need to take a drink for a moment or two, then put the cup back in the box. Any cups not left at the end of the shift are elibigible to be thrown away.

It works as a compromise. Perhaps you could negotiate something similar. Is there a cupboard or some other suitable "out of sight and out of the way" spot that you could use?

[jenputt]

We have had that rule at my ER since I started! I have been through two pregnancies while working and have dealt with dehydration too many times! I don't understand why, as long as it has a lid, we can't hydrate ourselves!!

[sserrn, BSN]

That's a very strict rule at my ER. It's a JCAHO thing. In my opinion, it leads to dehydration among nursing staff, which is very dangerous. Not trying to give TMI, but there have been dozens of 12-hr shifts where I've peed once. Oh, and I have interstitial cystitis!!

[Altra, BSN, RN]

It helps to realize that in this case "the powers that be" is/are Joint Commission and your state health department. Your department/hospital management most likely did not unilaterally seek out this point just to be evil.

We've solved this problem in two different departments in which I've worked by utilizing an overhead shelf formerly used to store printer paper. Find another place for packs of printer paper and voila, problem solved.

[pm2rn]

what is the difference between a shelf or at side of computer. pt is eating their chips and drinking their mt dew while i am starting the iv anyways. Where's JCAHO then?

[VICEDRN, BSN, RN]

The joint commission rule says you can't have an uncovered beverage in a patient care area, this is why patient meal trays all come with covers over the food and drinks. For staff, this means you couldn't have an open cup or straw but could have a water bottle. The hospitals exploit this to prevent staff from drinking and eating in clinical areas where patients are npo. It's easier to blame joint commission then admit its for customer service reasons.