From what I've read, this is not considered acceptable labeling. In my book it is, but according to JCAHO, this method is not what they want. A good example of what they want is posted on the last premixed med your inpt pharmacy delivered to your department. I can't see writing all that information on every syringe of Zofran I have to administer.
I really believe all these med standards (current and future) will never be met until every medication is prepared and labeled by a pharmacist on site before it is delivered to the staff nurse on site for administration. From what I have read about the pharmacy world, they are less than prepared to fulfill this role.
In the last 50 years or more, I am surprised nurses have not killed off more of the population. I'm sorry, but IMHO these "national patient safety goals" continue to be someone's way to keep their administrative position. Requiring increasing mandates of every move workers make will not ensure the safety of patients. More staff and the time/freedom to do the work results in less safety problems.
I feel a little bit of environment change could help with many of these safety issues. If you are so concerned with handwashing, install sinks in my rooms; the sanitizer you have so nicely provided doesn't clean pee, poo or the C. Dificile off my hands. If you want all specimens labeled at the bedside, provide pre-printed labels for me to use; the lab has them, why can't we?
Just a few ideas....Okay, I'm better now, and ready to follow my scripting for phone calls and patient contacts!
