Nurse advice to Lab needed

[DebLabTech]

Laboratory personnel and Nursing personnel don't always get along and I think it is mostly because lack of information of how things work on each others side.

I work for a fairly large health system and I have been given the chance to create "badges" to give to nurses with "lab hints" that perhaps could help out nurses and lab to be more efficient. Although we know this won't solve all the issues, we hope to help some departments to provide better patient care (including the lab department). Those badges would go behind the work badge we all use, or in your pocket book or whatever each one of us use.

So, any ideas of information that would be useful? Any experiences you would like to share that the outcome could have been better if communication was more effective? I understand different departments have different concerns, bring them all in! : )

From order of tube drawn (so vitally important for proper lab results) to how to order tests that are most importantly for your department, or even telephone etiquette that would allow both sides to attain the information needed faster or more clearly. No suggestion is silly and it will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you! ; )

[DebLabTech]

Perhaps things like, what information would be useful for nurses in the situations below?

- what's the difference between serum and plasma?

- Why can't my text be added to a sample previously collected?

- Why can't this test be done in a clotted specimen and this one can?

- How does hemolysis happen?

- Why does type and screen expire?

Sorry.. just adding some things that I hear while working and I am not sure how to address with the nurses, because it is so obvious to lab personnel and not for other departments.

: )

[DebLabTech]

Thank you!!!

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Tourniquet time

[marienm, RN, CCRN]

Minimum time needed to run each test? I had docs ordering q2hour CMPs for a critical pt. Our lab results these in about 75-90 minutes usually...maybe as little as 60 but not frequently unless they are stat. So we're just barely getting the results back, haven't had time to change any treatment, and the next lab is due! (I did get the doctors to change the order.)

And/or what tests cannot be run in-house? We needed a specific drug level on a pt and it turns out it takes 24 hours to result and can only be sent out Tuesdays through Thursdays! Since it was a Friday night at the time they dc'd the drug they thought was making the patient confused. Obviously all the specifics won't fit on a pocket card, but maybe a succinct list of "in-house tests available"?

[ottersloveoysters]

How many tests can I run on a particular type of tube?

Reminder to waste a tube when drawing coags. I find a lot of people do not do this.