rnleigh

Canoehead--yes, I was thinking of something like that. Sort of charting-by-exception--they're assumed to be a risk unless they are a&ox4 and have a steady gait. Thanks for your response.

Lunah--does your program give them a score based on answers chosen by the nurse(like the morse scale)? thanks! lpnstudent--we've been joking that all pediatric patients are high risk because of the question: history of falls?

Our unit is trying to find a way to identify patients at risk of falls in the ED. Our P&P dictates that the Morse scale is used on admitted patients, but we're working to write a P&P for the ED, and to implement appropriate documentation. The manager really wants to avoid the Morse scale as it is too cumbersome for the ED, but we're having trouble coming up with something simple. Wondering how other ED's handle this. Any ideas are much appreciated!

I'm really greatful for all the input. I think I'm going to revisit the caddy idea. I'm going to brainstorm on the towel idea, too. Thanks to all. I'll give an update sometime later!

LHH--i can understand your confusion. i just started working in this facility 2 years ago and thought it was absurd that the staff was attached to emesis basins to carry iv supplies to the bedside. unfortunately, they are very resistant to the idea of carrying the supplies in their hands or even in a lab bag (which they could put the vacutainers in to send to the lab when they're done.) here are the common complaints: "Where am I going to put everything?" "In your hands and then on the gurney." "Then the patient will kick it off." "If I take it in a lab bag, then I have to dig around in there to find things. With the basin I can just dump it all out." Can you see what we're up against?

florence--they use the emesis basins just to hold the supplies. i'm with those of you who say it all fits into my hand, but i suppose the nurses i work with are not very coordinated. i like the idea of stocking supplies at the bedside, but we literally don't have a place for that. the nurses use the basins just to walk from the nurses cart a few feet to the bedside. bjaeram--we are going to emi-bags. way more functional for actual vomit, i'm sure. i thought of the caddy idea, but it's too much of an infection-control risk. lots of "isolated" pts where i work. thanks for all the responses. if there are any other ideas, i'm still listening!

Our ER has a committee to identify ways to more prudently use supplies (enviromentally and fiscally.) Emesis basins were targeted because staff use them for everything but emesis, namely as a disposable holder for IV start supplies. (Then they're dumped in the sharps container!) Our staff is convinced that they cannot start an IV in absence of an emesis basin. I, personally, have never used an emesis basin to start an IV. Please tell me what the practice is at your institution. These nurses are getting all worked up just at the thought of their pink basins being gone! Thanks in advance for any ideas you can give me.