Patient ID Bracelets in LTC?

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I am an RN and just started a job at an LTC center this past week as an ADON. My former job was in critical care.

QUICK QUESTION: I was extremely surprised to find that not a single patient had any type of ID bracelet or name badge. I was hanging an IV for an LPN and was looking for a bracelet. I did not know the patient, the patient was confused, and I had no way to identify the patient other than the name on the door. My immediate thought is that this is extremely dangerous. Or, am I out of line and this is a common thing in LTC?

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Specializes in Cardiac Care.

Its very common, rarely have I worked in an LTC that had ID bracelets except on the rehab sides.

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Specializes in LTC.

I have worked in 3 LTC facilities and all of them have had ID bracelets. Where I am currently working we also have a picture of them in the MAR. I don't know what state you are in but I am in MI and when state is in the facility we have to have two proof of ID when passing meds with them. Well any time we have to prove we used two types of ID.

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We don't have ID bracelets but we include a photo (new one every 2 months) in the MAR,TAR and in the Room where most residents can't get to it.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Transplant, Education.

We have ID bracelets for the short-stay patients. LTC residents at our facility have bracelets that are put on if they are sent out to the hospital or go to an appt, etc.

All patients (short stay and LTC) are identified by a digital picture in the computer MAR/TAR that pops up next to their med/treatment pass.

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This is 1/2 of the reason I lasted only 3 days as a CNA in LTC. I didn't know anybody, they were identified by what room they were in (double bed rooms). At meal time in the dining room, they were placed 4 per table, no diagram--It was driving me crazy that I might accidently give someone milk if they were lactose intolerant, or regular juice if they were diabetic, etc. etc. After my first day, I wanted to put masking tape with their name and room number on their back--but was instead told that I would "get to know their names" as time went on. We're talking older adults that frequently didn't even know their own name or room number!!! I thought I was crazy!! How dangerous to not have pts labeled--what do they do for the 5 rights with med pass??? Seriously...

Hindsight, I'm glad I didn't stay. I'm currently a nursing student, and soon to be RN. I still learned something from the very brief LTC experience. (what not to do!).

Everyone should be labeled!!! I don't care how, just get it done!:twocents:

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This is 1/2 of the reason I lasted only 3 days as a CNA in LTC. I didn't know anybody, they were identified by what room they were in (double bed rooms). At meal time in the dining room, they were placed 4 per table, no diagram--It was driving me crazy that I might accidently give someone milk if they were lactose intolerant, or regular juice if they were diabetic, etc. etc. After my first day, I wanted to put masking tape with their name and room number on their back--but was instead told that I would "get to know their names" as time went on. We're talking older adults that frequently didn't even know their own name or room number!!! I thought I was crazy!! How dangerous to not have pts labeled--what do they do for the 5 rights with med pass??? Seriously...

Hindsight, I'm glad I didn't stay. I'm currently a nursing student, and soon to be RN. I still learned something from the very brief LTC experience. (what not to do!).

Everyone should be labeled!!! I don't care how, just get it done!:twocents:

Nothing like putting everyone to bed, being 5 minutes from leaving and finding out 4 of your people are in the wrong bed because they look similar. :D

That's the joy of LTC. You only have good times like that at the beginning though. Heh.

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Specializes in psych. rehab nursing, float pool.

The inability to identify patients was one of the very reasons two days in LTC were enough for me. It scared me to death. Bless you all who work in LTC.

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Specializes in Acute Care/ LTC.

i do understand what most of you are saying about being nervous because you don't know the residents. Most places do have systems in place so you can identify them and yes you do eventually get to know them. i don't appreciate the "label them" comment. The residents aren't dogs or animals. They are people. it is supposed to be THEIR home! Do you wear an ID bracelet at home???? If i am not sure of someone who is new, i check the door, the picture, and as someone else.

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At my past 2 facilities, they didn't have ID bracelets UNTIL the time for state came around.. then magically, everyone had nice armbands. The residents who had been there awhile had outdated pics in the chart and the new ones didn't even have a picture. I had to ask the CNA's in the beginning until I recognized them.

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER.

Wow,.I've never worked LTC but I can't imagine not having a way to identify a pt I am responsible for giving meds to. I goes against everything we were taught about passing meds. Do LTC's have to follow JCAHO regulations? How do you have two pt identifiers? I can understand the difficulty in placing arm bands on pt's who live there and may be there for years,..but how do you safely give meds until you've worked there for however long it would take to get to know everyone?

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Specializes in Cardiac/Step-Down, MedSurg, LTC.

In the last month suddenly everyone has name bracelets. Many of them have removed the bracelets, but the bracelets are at least on their bed rails. We also keep Polaroids in the MAR for patient identification. It does take awhile, especially if you're a nurse who works nights (and you don't see everyone clearly every night!) ... of course the bracelets are on now that we're in our state survey window.

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