Oxygen

[Marija1]

At my work a gentleman receives O2 therapy. When he is asleep at night he gets O2 from a concentrator. On the day he has a portable tank. I don't normally fillbthe portable tank as I am thinking it is up to day staff to fill that one. The order on the MARS only has the portable tank on it as "compressed" i have been signing for that. But now my supervisor says I signed but haven't been filling it up so it is a med error. I am a bit confused as yes I signed the wrong order but he doesn't receive that type at night. So shouldn't the correct or der for "oxygen" be entered into the MARS? And if I was signing the wrong order is it really an error if he doesn't get the portable O2 at night? So confused!

[bellcollector]

I am a 3rd shifter and every place I have worked save for private duty it is our job to make sure things are done with our pts. and clean and restocked for the next shift. Personally I feel it is each shifts job to have things ready to go for the next shift. I believe it is just commen courtousy. Everyone on every shift is going to have a rough/busy shift from time to time, when this happens I document document document plus I write everything including what I couldn't get to on the report sheet, copy it give report and leave the copy in my supervisors box. Sometimes I will call supervisor for approval for over time if I feel there is simply to much for next shift to catch up while safely tending to their pts. If I find an incorrectly written order I fax for clarification leave a sticky to alert those that follow me and as soon as I get clarification I dc the unclear order and re-write it correctly. Then I put the new order in file and a copy in supervisors box. This is how I handle it hope it helps.

[Marija1]

True it would make sense for each shift to work as a team. I have no issues with having things prepared for the next shift however there is one "individual" nurse that works as just that and not part of the team, likely believing that we work under her! That is the may issue here. I have found the oxygen empty on my shift a number of times but simply go ahead and fill it and not complain. I just assume the shift prior may have been too busy. It's a common courtesy thing for sure!

[Marija1]

Also I was told that I was not following a Dr.s order to give O2, yet O2 was given by concentrator in his room, their is no order that states "fill" the tank, this should just be part of a duties list not an "order" on the MARS