Pyxis systems ???

Luv cats · Oct 27, 2002

We use Pyxis for all pts. We have one main thing with x2 towers for refrigerated things. Each med nurse (x2) has 11-13 pts apiece. They just go to it with each MAR and pull all of that pts meds for the specific time and go give them, etc, etc. We have talk of getting another tower for all and any supplies. The only thing we could get to without going through Pyxis will be linen!

I'm so used to using it, that it's no big deal.

FTell001 · Oct 27, 2002

you are SUPPOSED to SCAN the pt's ID bracelet...then pull the med....and scan each one separately...so that means you take the pixis to the room..stand AT the bedside..use the wand and scan the bracelet. Then..you scan the med..AND..if the med comes packaged in higher dose..or smaller dose, you change the milligrams to what you are giving..enter that......then scan the next med. The computer will signal that it needs this information before it will give you the signal to give the med. OUR hospitals FROWN on overriding..which means you are allowed to do it a little..but DON'T MAKE A HABIT OF IT!

In actuallity...few nurses actually go to the bedside with the dang thing and scan each pt's bracelet..and then pull the med. It would take too long to do this..which defeats the purpose of having this system in place to prevent med errors!

Most of the nurse I observed..pull all the meds for each pt...enter the pt's id number while at the med cart....enter teh corrections while at the med cart..and then pass the meds.

Personally I hated the thing..because of the time it took..although it did have some great features..like being able to input into the computer while in the hall a missing med message to pharmacy without having to go back to the nursing station and alert pharmacy about the missing med.

If you use it as it is intended...it would take FOREVER to do a real med pass.......

Ah management....and their ideas on preventing med errors..with the overload of pts/to nurses! WHAT WILL THEY THINK OF NEXT???

FTell001 · Oct 27, 2002

P.S. I dont' think this nurse was talking about the Pixis system for withdrawing narcotics....but..if so...well

THAT IS A WHOLE different story..then doing med passes as I described above. The description I gave was for BCMA (bar code medication administration)...

If you were talking about using a Pixis for the "lockup" drugs..then..I am all for that! Easy to use...no narc count at end of shift...etc.

Its the BCMA that I dislike! The one for passing all your routine meds!

FTell001 · Oct 27, 2002

Jammer..see this thread r/t the BCMA system for med passes!

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9886

lisamcrn · Oct 27, 2002

Jammer it really isn't so bad. My floor is the skilled nursing unit and we are also regulated like a nursing home. We used to be a 30 bed now only 18 d/t the opening of acute rehab unit cut down on our max. I imagine our unit is the sister to you....sometimes I wonder what anyone is thinking when some of the pts I have had come in the door. Anyway, I also do the MDS coordinating and I've only been here for about 3 months. But, overall I like the pyxis system.

We still have the med cart that is stocked by pharmacy and holds a few narcs that aren't in the pyxis. We log on with a password and then get what we need. The only problem is usually awaiting for pharmacy to put the med into the system, which only takes a short time. Our pyxis is used mostly for prn meds and we have the ability to override to get something if its a stat order. I think it saves time myself. You do one person at a time as you go. handy if you drop your med cup, like I did on Tues, and then have to get 5-6 new pills for your pt to get it from there instead of calling pharmcy. I think you will find it isn't so bad, the extra trips to the machine just become part of the routine. IF they keep med carts on your floor then I imagine it would work pretty similarly. If they take your med carts, that would just mean waiting in line for the pyxis like you have to do sometimes for the medcart.

Lisa

nightingale, RN · Oct 27, 2002

It works more efficiently then looking for meds in a cart. You can enter patient names, get meds that are time passed, and not worry about counts that go beyond the last person who made the error.

New things can be scarry but change is sometimes a good thing!

Let us know how we can help.

B.

FTell001 · Oct 27, 2002

Originally posted by nightngale1998
It works more efficiently then looking for meds in a cart. You can enter patient names, get meds that are time passed, and not worry about counts that go beyond the last person who made the error.

New things can be scarry but change is sometimes a good thing!

Let us know how we can help.

B.

I think she is talking about passing meds using the BCMA method......which is scanning barcode band around pt's wrist...each patient...then giving ROUTINE meds.

Do I have your question relating to med pass correct? Its not JUST getting your narcs from the pixxis for the pt..but.......using bar code scanning of meds and pt's wristband?

baseline · Oct 27, 2002

Our hospital doesnt use the pyxsis that scans patient wrist bands. Must be a newer version, we've had ours for awhile. Don't get freaked out....it really has many many advantages, it's just new to you.....and you will adjust and tweak your methods and routines, and carry on ! Really, its a nice system.

FTell001 · Oct 27, 2002

yep..the pixis that you pull your narcotics from...you don't need to scan the pt's wristband.

Its the other computer..on a small table..that you wheel from room to room...with the wand scanner that you use to pass your routine meds that are kept in the carts on the floor. You have to pull all your meds which are packaged individually and have a barcode on the individual pack. You scan the wristband..then scan the med. Before you can give a b/p med..you have to register the b/p in the machine. If you give insulin..you have to enter the CBG reading..if you give an eye drop..and its for both eyes..you have to enter the amt of mg. (which is double since you are give it OU.

If you walk in the room to JUST give an eyedrop..you must log in to your rolling computer....then scan the bracelet..scan the eyedrop..and then enter the information the computer requires before it ok's you to give that eyedrop.

NOW..imagine having 8 pts and racing around with that computer!

I'm not talking about the pixis....the BIG one that stays at the nursing station..but the small computers on tables that roll from room to room.

This little setup was adopted by admin. to alleviate med errors....(thinking here...too many pts per nurse......but they aren't putting more nurses on the floor but spending a bunch of money on this little system that sloooooooows you down!)

Oh...and..if you do as most nurses do..and just enter the pt's id number..and you give the wrong med to the wrong patient...they will immediately know you didnt' use the system as instructed!

Most nurses I've seen know you can't get the meds passed on time by rolling to each room...and scanning bracelets...and meds....and entering all the info they need. Overriding is FROWNED upon..if you do it much!

FTell001 · Oct 27, 2002

Baseline..there are two totally different things....the PIXXIS..that you retrieve your narcotics from...and the small laptop computers that are on tables that roll from room to room to record ROUTINE med passes. NO paper mar......you use this little laptop..its called BCMA...bar code med adm.....

State hospitals use them...and now they are entering the private sector...

deespoohbear · Oct 27, 2002

Wouldn't rolling the little computer from room to room be an infection control issue? Our IFC nurse would probably freak at this idea!!!

FTell001 · Oct 27, 2002

ah..good point! Personally..I wish they would hire more nurses...for "safe care"..instead of trying to cover their A** with these little rolling computers!