JCAHO & Labeling Medications

[Jemma]

JCAHO standard says all medications poured into another container on a sterile field must be labeled-- how are others addressing this with local on Delivery Room tables? On our department local is only poured to a sterile med cup on the table for the provider if needed and immediately before they draw it up in their syringe. There are no other meds placed on the DR table. Would like to know what others are doing?

[suzanne4, RN]

Sticker or what ever comes in the package. Same thing that happens in the OR. Any liquids must be labelled, even if the only one on the field.

Does not matter if it is water or normal saline in a basin, it needs to be labelled.

JCAHO states any liquid, it is not restricted to medications.

[babyktchr, BSN, RN]

We actually have sterile labels and markers for that purpose. I personally don't put anything on the table anymore until it is asked for.

I would love to meet Mr. JCAHO...seems they just don't have enough to do.

[CIRQL8]

Some of our sterile packs do not have medication or blank labels, in which case we use a 1/2" steri strip and skin marker to label the liquids/meds. I think we are even supposed to mark the exp. date....

[HappyNurse2005, RN]

Our delivery table packs come with a sterile cup, and a sterile label that states it is lidocaine