Our medication machine requires a finger scan. It is not uncommon to see nurses walk up and run their finger on their forehead before scanning their finger. I generally refuse to do this as I try not to touch any part of my face while working, but am often left mashing my finger in different directions and getting rejected multiple times.
I just imagine the pyxis as this epicenter of germs on our unit. Each nurse goes to it and takes whatever germs they have picked up back to their patients rooms. The fact that the cleaner your hands the harder it is to pick up your finger print means that people are less apt to wash their hands right before they take out meds, only making it more germ filled.
Any other units have this problem? Anyone have any recommendations
Specializes in Burn, CCU, CTICU, Trauma, SICU, MICU.
A bunch of people I work with rub their fingers on their foreheads or on the skin behind their ears to pick up skin oil. I think it is *disgusting* and I alcohol gel my hands after using the machine because I am so grossed out. No one else wants to touch your gross face sweat, people!!
The ATM for drugs is a good concept poorly executed. Has anybody asked employee health to culture the finger scanners to check vectors. I bet they'll never tell you the culture results!
I also hate that the more urgentlly I need the med, the harder it is to get logged in. I seriously intend to take a can opener to the foolish thing some day and be done with it.
We usually have one of the hospital moisturizer dispensers next to the Pyxis for this reason - you can just take a tiny dab from the pump to moisten the fingers. I have to do this a lot - in a pinch I've used the "touch skin on my neck" or whatever. I'm generally not sweaty at work, but yes I do understand this is at least psychologically grosser. Honestly I'm sure we carry more germs on our fingers even with all the Purell, but I think the moisturizer container works just fine. Clean AND readable-by-Pyxis. :)
We have a bottle of lotion on the Pyxis, to help people scan. I always have problems. But after reading this thread, Next time I work I'm going to talk to Pharmacy to see if I can change back to my password.!
After having a bad experience with a password being stolen and drugs going missing, I prefer the finger scan. And at this point, it would require a management reset, because I don't have a clue what I logged in with years ago when I started working here. So as annoying as it is, I do feel safe knowing that while somebody could watch me type in my password, they can watch my finger all they want and won't get anything.
But oh my goodness. Waiting on pharmacy to ok meds. Waiting on pharmacy to send meds that are in the pyxis but we can't get out because of whatever. Drawers that won't open/won't close/won't turn.
Oh pyxis, you bring me such good things (like patient sedating medications!!!) But oh how you bring me hypertension and head pain as well!!!
I feel like I should write a song to the pyxis. If only I wasn't so tired....
I've used the "touch skin on my neck" or whatever. I'm generally not sweaty at work, but yes I do understand this is at least psychologically grosser.
I'm not concerned about the psychological part. Someone else had something about "I don't want your sweat". It's not your sweat I'm all that worried about. It is the action of taking whatever VRE, MRSA, ESBL, C-Diff, etc., after scanning your finger and literally applying it to your neck or face, or taking it directly into a patients room and sharing it with them.
Kudos to Turtle in Scrubs. I haven't hear the word 'fomite' in eons. You are right the pyxis must be some breeding ground - bet there is a cure for something on that machine. Would be fun/interesting if the bacteriology dept would do a culture of the area where finger is placed for access.
Turtle in scrubs
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Licking your fingers??? Oh Dear Lord... NO licking! I will now have nightmares.