2 Nurses needed???

ShandyLynnRN, BSN, RN · Mar 19, 2003

I actually am not sure if it is policy at our hospital, but I always call a second nurse to verify insulin. I actually didn'ty know that heparin required two nurses, but I rarely give it, so I always double check with another nurse, just to make sure I have calculated right.

I also do this for any med given to a neonate or child.

MPHkatie · Mar 19, 2003

It is a very very strict policy at our hospital (850 bed level one trauma etc).

It is a bit old school, as we don't have to verify other, just as dangerous medications, but we definitely sign off on both. perhaps we are a bit paranoid, but we also sign off on bizarre medications such as protamine sulfate, which are only given once in a blue moon.

sunnygirl272 · Mar 19, 2003

strict policy at the hospital at which my mom works...

FullMoonMadness · Mar 19, 2003

Very strictly enforced at my hospital. I think it is a good practice as I have seen several near misses averted due to the second pair of eyes.

ayemmeff · Mar 19, 2003

Originally posted by FullMoonMadness
Very strictly enforced at my hospital. I think it is a good practice as I have seen several near misses averted due to the second pair of eyes.

Ditto!

Sarah, RNBScN · Mar 19, 2003

Insulin, heparin and paed(S) narcotics are double checked in our facility (ER/hospital policy).

Nothing wrong with safety....

jayne109, RN · Mar 19, 2003

Some of the nurses don't like getting verified but we all do it with insulin. We don't with heparin, though at our hospital. I like getting verified because our syringes are hard for everybody to read anyway so it is good to get a second set of eyes to see if I am seeing what I need to see.

CougRN · Mar 19, 2003

Do you all mean like in nursing school when your instructor looked at your syringe to insure you were giving the right drug and right amount? If so, wow, no this is not done where i work. Hopefully by the time you are a RN you can learn to give drugs without help.

MishlB · Mar 19, 2003

Not old school. just smart! It's not about knowing how to give drugs, but possibly making a mistake in drawing up an amount, especially with insulin syringes...those tiny lines are SO hard to see when you are tired!! A simple check from another nurse can save lots of trouble later. CougRN...you might want to check your facility policy, just in case, and it's not about being an inept nurse.

ayemmeff · Mar 19, 2003

Originally posted by MishlB
it's not about being an inept nurse.

No,it's about being a smart one,Mish. Well said!

Ever heard the saying "Pride comes before a fall." Coug??

cbs3143 · Mar 19, 2003

There are reasons for these policies. Part of being a "good and competent" nurse is not being afraid to ask a co-worker to double check you, especially with medication doses. If a hospital has a policy that a nurse doesn't feel is worth following, and something bad happens, they'd better hold onto their a$$ because it's going to get rough.

My facility used to require a double check of Heparin doses, and still does require double-checking of insulin doses. We often ask another nurse to double check other drug calculations. It is not a sign of being incompetent, it is a sign of caring, making sure you get the correct dose for your patients. I have double checked other nurses when they've had a question or felt uncomfortable with a dose calculation, and they have double checked me. It's just good nursing care.

Chuck