Our hospital implemented the Omnicell system a month or two ago. Since that time there have been nothing but glitches. We are a small hospital and I think there are 3 computer guys. Meanwhile, our hospital is in a managerial crisis, the staff is in an uproar, on the verge of a no confidence vote, extreme paranoia and resentment towards upper management, nurse managers are all interim staff, continuity and stablity are non-existant, no where to turn.
The other day I floated to Med/Surg, once again I could not find my patient on the local list of the Omnicell, and the patient appeared to be discharged on the global list. The head computer guy has been in the hospital for a long time in a larger city, another computer guy just quit to pursue other career options. I'm living a real life, repetative nursing nightmare, patient and pro-active daughter are waiting for pain relief, 1 step process turned into agonizing, frustrating, I hate our healthcare system and where it's going epiphany.
I wrote an email to Quality Assurence, CC to dreaded CNO and head of pharmacy, got response, applied to a clinic job (not that it will be any better), paranoia, resentment, frustration. Finally today (day off) broke down and sobbed at how crappy and inefficient our healthcare system is, how much I hate it, I need another beer it's hot outside.
Thanks for listening, I wish I didn't have to run an obstacle course to deliver timely care to my patients in their hour of need.
I'll say that 6 times out of 10 when I'm REALLY frustrated, it's because of something like the Omnicell or pyxis or the phones or the computers. (3.5 out of 10 it's management, only 0.5 of the time is it actual patient care!)
Kulmbacher is good too ... as is coffee w/Bailey's ... takes away the rough edges
We have the Omnicell system too although in the ER if the patient is for some reason not showing up in the global or local lists we just type them in and it supposedly all gets worked out in the end ... I imagine it's different on an inpatient unit ... maybe the patient's ordered meds are tied to the local list ...
A similar Perfect Storm of frustration for me recently: pt. who was an impossible stick - 2 of us were unsuccessful, called IV team who returned page prompty ... but then called back 20 minutes later and said they were unable to come to the ER ... asked doc if she wanted to do a fem stick or put a line in the EJ ... doc hems & haws for another 10 minutes ... attending starts asking where lab results are on the patient ... uh, we don't have any blood yet ... unhappy attending ... resident finally does a fem stick ... and the ^&^*# printer is jammed and will not print the reqs ... 3 of us sit on the floor with various printer/copier parts, new toner, etc., perform a secret voodoo ritual I can't describe and finally print the reqs ... then the tube shuttle system is down ... *$%^!!! ... lab states they're going to "wait until maintenance comes to see if they can fix it quickly" before having lab tech come around & pick up specimens ... *&%$#!!!!
FireStarterRN, BSN, RN
3,824 Posts
I feel better. Tommorrow I'm going fishing. I hate the healthcare system.