sbaggett

Thank you all for your input and feedback. Your insights are quite helpful. Any others who have opinions about this device to transport freestanding IV poles with wheelchairs and beds, please post. Other questions I have which I can't quite answer, maybe you can help: 1. Why not just use the IV pole on the bed instead of transporting the floorstanding pole? 2. How often do IV poles really fall over? (my guess is more often than is admitted, am I right?) 3. What departments in hospitals transport IV patients most frequently? 4. Does it take extra people from the unit to transport the equip (i.e. would the bed automatically transporting the pole provide time savings?) I guess that's all I can think of right now. You know this stuff better than anyone since your around it daily. Please help....and thanks! -S

Hi, First let me say "Kudos" to you nurses. My wife is a NICU nurse. Beyond the fact that I love her deeply, I also admire the work she does. I admire the work all nurses do. It is my belief nurses are underappreciated compared to the remarkable contribution you make in healthcare. Really! I'm not just saying that. In fact, reading through many of the posts in this group supports that belief. To than end, I am considering an idea that came my way for a tool that might make nurses' lives just a little bit easier. You could use a does of "easier" every now and then, right? My wife suggested I get feedback from nurses...this seems as good a place as any. Note: This is not a solicitation or advertisement. Just a means to collect geniune feedback. The tool is a simple device which attaches to to "critical care" beds (ICU, CCU, PACU, etc.), wheelchairs, and stretcher. There is an arm which swings out an locks into various positions and grips the floorstanding IV pole making it effortless to transport the patient and have the IV pole just roll along. The bed attachment can actually support two poles. I realize there are bed mounted IV poles but I've spent enough time in hospitals to see that those are not always used (why not?) so I see some merit in this idea. I also think this device might address patient handling risks, especially in cases where bariatric patients are concerned. I've seen female nurses trying to push heavy patients in a wheelchair and fumbling with the IV pole, pumps and all. It seemed quite difficult. This device essentially gives nurses (and where applicable transport agents) a third hand, enabling the bed or wheelchair to lend a helping hand. So the big question I am trying to answer is what value would the typical nurse place on such a tool? Though I haven't thought too far ahead, other questions that come to mind include how do nurses buy or influence the purchase of such products in you hospitals? Is there a protocol or can you usually get something if you really like it and could use it? If any of you feel so inclined, please address this idea. I'd love to hear from nurses about the value of this product concept. Keep up the good work. Thank God for Nurses! Best Regards, -Stephen