We just started scanning meds/pt bracelets this week at our hospital. We are the pilot unit. I work on a very busy surgical unit. People are coming and going constantly, not unusual to have 20 people discharged, and 20 new patients admitted in a 12 hour shift. There is clutter in the hall always, with beds, linen carts, etc and now we have added 12 computers on wheels to the mix. My question for those of you who use this system for giving meds, does it ever get easier and faster? I know we are just learning the system, but taking the computers into every room every time you give a med, is time consuming, and cumbersome. Our rooms are very crowded with equipment and visitors (most are semiprivate) and it is difficult to maneuver. Also, we have again begun to chart vital signs only in the computer and not on the hard copy of the chart. They say we will eventually go to all computer based charting, but right now we have to go through extra steps to find vital signs in the computer if our PCA's have done them, doctors are constantly asking for their last set of vitals, and then in an emergency situation when you need the last set, or a trend,it takes extra time to go in and retrieve the info. We did this a few years ago, and within a few weeks went to double charting in the computer and chart, and eventually back to just the chart. I am tired of listening to angry docs, and taking time out of my already overly busy day to find stuff in the computer for them...I guess I am just venting, but also asking for advice, or maybe a pep talk of how it will get better, or advice on how to improve the system. Any would be gladly appreciated.
We use the COW for our charting, and probly will move into the scanning in the near future. Heaven help us. We have the same problem with vitals. However, our docs are getting better about looking up their own info. But as for new surgicals i hate it. We usually have our CNA's doing the post-op vitals and before we could just pick the clipboard and look at the trends, now we have to pull up the computer screen, jump back and forth and I really dont find it condusive to good care and monitoring when you have a surgical that is boarderline.
And i find them cumbersome to push around. My thought is there is someone who is going to blow a disc or something by not manuvering them correctly. They are on wheels but they are still fairly heavy with the battery on board. If you have a patient who has a couple suctions, cords for pumps, iv poles, FAMILIES etc. there isnt any way taking it in the room is feasable. Leave it in the hall outside the door.
We use computer charting and med scanning also. I like the computer charting but don't know about the med scanning. Where I work (NICU) scanning the meds isn't to bad because the babies don't get near as many meds as the adult pts, I don't have as many as a floor nurse would, my patients don't get up and walk around, and the computers are right at the bedside(nothing to wheel around). I don't see how this is doable on the floors though, with 7-8 pts. We have to end up overriding a bunch of meds anyway cuz they are put in wrong or not in time.
Then you have to explain why you overrode it...you can get written up for having too many overrides but sometimes you don't have time to wait for pharmacy to enter the order....yeah it's a pain but welcome to the future.
We use computer charting and med scanning also. I like the computer charting but don't know about the med scanning. Where I work (NICU) scanning the meds isn't to bad because the babies don't get near as many meds as the adult pts, I don't have as many as a floor nurse would, my patients don't get up and walk around, and the computers are right at the bedside(nothing to wheel around). I don't see how this is doable on the floors though, with 7-8 pts. We have to end up overriding a bunch of meds anyway cuz they are put in wrong or not in time.
Then you have to explain why you overrode it...you can get written up for having too many overrides but sometimes you don't have time to wait for pharmacy to enter the order....yeah it's a pain but welcome to the future.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
With our EMAR, IF you use the system as you are supposed to, you are expected to drag this heavy and unwieldly thing into each patient room each time you give meds so you can scan their arm bands. this is indeed cumbersome and potentially can cause back injuries for nurses. Like I said, this was obviously NOT designed by a nurse. Could not have been. Handheld scanners would have made so much more sense. :angryfire
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
With our EMAR, IF you use the system as you are supposed to, you are expected to drag this heavy and unwieldly thing into each patient room each time you give meds so you can scan their arm bands. this is indeed cumbersome and potentially can cause back injuries for nurses. Like I said, this was obviously NOT designed by a nurse. Could not have been. Handheld scanners would have made so much more sense. :angryfire
With our EMAR, IF you use the system as you are supposed to, you are expected to drag this heavy and unwieldly thing into each patient room each time you give meds so you can scan their arm bands. this is indeed cumbersome and potentially can cause back injuries for nurses. Like I said, this was obviously NOT designed by a nurse. Could not have been. Handheld scanners would have made so much more sense. :angryfire
YIKES!!!! Ours was hand-held and everyone complained. Time consuming and unnecessary. It was abandoned.
With our EMAR, IF you use the system as you are supposed to, you are expected to drag this heavy and unwieldly thing into each patient room each time you give meds so you can scan their arm bands. this is indeed cumbersome and potentially can cause back injuries for nurses. Like I said, this was obviously NOT designed by a nurse. Could not have been. Handheld scanners would have made so much more sense. :angryfire
YIKES!!!! Ours was hand-held and everyone complained. Time consuming and unnecessary. It was abandoned.
meownsmile, BSN, RN
2,532 Posts
We use the COW for our charting, and probly will move into the scanning in the near future. Heaven help us. We have the same problem with vitals. However, our docs are getting better about looking up their own info. But as for new surgicals i hate it. We usually have our CNA's doing the post-op vitals and before we could just pick the clipboard and look at the trends, now we have to pull up the computer screen, jump back and forth and I really dont find it condusive to good care and monitoring when you have a surgical that is boarderline.
And i find them cumbersome to push around. My thought is there is someone who is going to blow a disc or something by not manuvering them correctly. They are on wheels but they are still fairly heavy with the battery on board. If you have a patient who has a couple suctions, cords for pumps, iv poles, FAMILIES etc. there isnt any way taking it in the room is feasable. Leave it in the hall outside the door.