robin_nicole

I decided that the best way to make sure the nurse is aware of a patient's need that was not urgent is to put one of those metal spindles that you stab papers onto, on the med cart. (This hospital still doesn't have a pyxis, they use a med cart.) So each nurse has there own little cart and a space to chart. I think that if you put the spindle on the cart (which are all up against the nurses station) the secretary could stab the paper with the patients room number and what they need. The nurse could then look at it whenever they get back form what they are doing they can take care of it. I have two teachers for this class. One is really great, and the other lady is a little on the moody, unpredictable side. The good one actually gave me the idea and after looking into the options it seemed like the best solution for this hospital. I just hope the other teacher doesn't think it's too simple or somehting.

Thanks so much. Ya'll are all very helpful. The deal with this paper is it is a rural hospital setting so there is barely a budget to have a patient care tech at all not to mention one who only answers call lights. My main problem is that in this hospital, the unit secretary usually answers the call light, but sometimes the nurse isn't always around for her to relay the message to. So sh generally proceeds to take care of it to the effect of yelling out "303 B needs to go to the bathroom." No one really ever makes sure that this is really done or even knows if the nurse or tech is aware that it needs to be done. So my delimma was devising a system in which the nurse or tech is made aware that the patient has a need. After talking to the unit manager about the pagers, I decided that was not a good idea for anyone. The nurse doesn't need any more alarms sounding then there already are and management doesn't need to spend money on pagers that will eventually be "lost". I think I figured out a really simple plan for this I just hope my teacher agrees with me.

I am a senior nursing student and I am working on a managment paper. My topic is about the nurse call light system. I need some ideas on how to make sure the call lights get answered and that it is done in a timely manner. I would really appreciate it if someone aould give me some ideas about maybe what there hospital does to make sure the call light is answered. I have a ideas of my own, but I am not sure that they are good enough. Please help!!!! Robin