Restocking

[EMSnut45, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Restocking-- Everyone hates it, and blames the opposite shift for not doing it. Since I spoke up to the manager about how often I come in and find supplies at a bare minimum, I'm tasked with finding a solution.

I work in a 23ish bed ER (minus the many hall stretchers) that staffs 6 RN's and 2-3 techs (although frequently short staffed). It is up to the ER staff to restock-- central supply only delivers the supplies to the closet. The glucometer is another issue-- every time I pick it up, it needs QC's done immediately.

Does anyone have a suggestion on how to encourage restocking on all shifts? Is there a way to make individuals accountable for what they do/don't do (example: sign a check-off sheet)?

[blinks14]

I can't answer the question about stocking because at my current job as a nursing assistant I had taken on the responsibility of stocking the unit and it was a difficult job. Really very frustrating. I'm moving onto my first RN job and I'm leaving that worry to someone else.

Anyways about the glucometer, I worked in a same day surgical unit where it was made someone's responsibility to run QC's on the it every morning that way any time it was picked up that day it could be used immediately. We didn't ever have a problem doing it this way.

[Larry77, RN]

Our tech's are usually pretty good at restocking especially for night shift...but we occasionally do restock things like IV carts. Glucometer QC's are our responsibility and we have a check list for "room checks" that has to be signed off for days and noc'--one for tech's and one for RN's. Things like suction/O2/code carts/specialized equip would be on the RN list and supply/linen stocking would be on the tech list.

[AandE angel]

Hi i work in ER in the UK, our stocking must be done every morning (as 7am is about the quietest time) it is the nurses job to clean and stock his or her own area - each area has a check list which must be ticked and signed when the areas are stocked, the matron then comes round and reads the check lists. This is a good system except when we come on shift and its really busy and you have no time to do the check list because then the next 2 shifts dont do and it waits til the following morning by which time all the stock is depleted. x

[LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN]

So we work int the same ER?

I too work in a 23 bed ER, we have about 4 techs and 8 RN's working. It is the techs job to stock the rooms and supply carts. There are check lists in in each room with the item and the amount listed for each. We are supposed to check of the list twice a day. The nurses when they get their room assingments are supposed to check their rooms and make sure that they are stocked, and the night tech is supposed to do all the QC on the gulcometer.

That is what is supposed to happen, but we know for the mos part when and if it is quite stock the rooms.

[nurse97mommy2000]

At our facility our techs do the stocking unless we do not have one scheduled for that day. In that case we are suppose to stock our assigned rooms, but most often it is too busy.

[needsmore$]

i stock my own areas. since patient care and their outcomes could be determinate based on equipment, i feel that it is imperative that my area is stocked and equipment functioning-so i do it myself!

what would happen if you were working and a patient comes in and needs immediate suctioning and ooops- your suction is set up wrong or not at all? the patient is now at risk for aspiration and ---could you be held liable for this injury? i'm not a legal eagle but i'll bet you could.

tough to stock and care for patients? absolutely. but, it's part of the job. make sure the important stuff is ready to go if you're taxed for time-- the abc equipment (suction, bvmr, iv pumps and supplies, o2 stuff)

if something's not stocked and something goes wrong, finger-pointing isn't going to help the nurse assigned to that patient who may have been injured because of missing or nonfunctioning equipment (or lack of education regarding how to operate it)

my 2 cents!

[crb613, BSN, RN]

We are scheduled to stock......for every day & shift there is a stocking assignment w/your name (nurses & techs). If its not done.... its not hard to find out who the slacker is. Before we started doing this.... I stocked every shift I worked..nothing makes me madder than to open a drawer/cabinet needing something & it not being there! So I would always make sure when I left the next shift was in good shape....... I hope this post makes sense I took a pain pill earlier ( knee injury) & my mind is working a little slower than usual!

[MAISY, RN-ER, BSN, RN]

While I think stocking is important, patient care is more so! ER clinical technicians in my facility are not CNAs, they perform phlebotomy, ekgs, and testing...in addition, they perform hands on tasks with patients. While stocking is part of their job, it is not their primary job.

I check all my monitors, oxygen/suction/air valves and immediate care stuff first thing in the morning. I also take those things I or my patient will need and place them at my desk site and in their rooms. Since I check it anyway, I don't mind restocking it.

JMO

Maisy

[TraumaNurseRN]

I say if a hospital is willing to pay RN wages to stock the room so be it....not good fiscal decision but.....oh well.

We have a stocking tech except for IV fluids.....everything else can be done by a tech. Good system if you have a tech who actually works the system the way it's supposed to work, otherwise...you are searching for an 18G angio and there's none to be found.

[MAISY, RN-ER, BSN, RN]

While I agree it is not fiscally sound if there are patients to care for....if there are few in the early AM, then it is less so for an RN to sit around, instead of preparing their areas. Anyway, I'd rather know that everything is where it's supposed to be....there's nothing quite like a missing flow meter when you need oxygen.

JMHO

Maisy

[biker momma]

I work in a 50 bed ER. Stocking is an issue here also. Our tech's are "supposed" to stock (some areas during the wee hours of the day, some early am) but they many times too busy with other tasks. Ideally I think it should be an assigned duty and that person should be only assigned that job until it's done. I work a 1800-0630 shift around 4am or so things ususally slow down and I then try to restock the rooms I am using. I also make it my job to stock as I go i.e if I have to go find IV tubing I bring my pockets full and restock the cart. Our glucometers are QC's every am at 6 by an ED tech who is coming on shift. I would love to have a supply elf that magically replenished items as they were used!