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.
Try scanning for 30-40 pts who get 5-10 pills, ointments, creams tx's. It really becomes time consuming! When it takes half the shift just to do meds, something is wrong. You'd think they would come up with a system that takes less time, but alas...And yes my feet hurt so bad I have to take Ibuprophen before I go out with my cart. We just got new med carts and they are so much heavier than the old ones. Fully loaded, that is with the drawers packed with meds, one cart weighs 175lbs. I wonder if it'll get better by the time I reach 65 and on the verge of retirement. I don't think my old arms and creeking shoulder joints will be able to handle it. Must keep passing meds. :icon_sad:
Try scanning for 30-40 pts who get 5-10 pills, ointments, creams tx's. It really becomes time consuming! When it takes half the shift just to do meds, something is wrong. You'd think they would come up with a system that takes less time, but alas...And yes my feet hurt so bad I have to take Ibuprophen before I go out with my cart. We just got new med carts and they are so much heavier than the old ones. Fully loaded, that is with the drawers packed with meds, one cart weighs 175lbs. I wonder if it'll get better by the time I reach 65 and on the verge of retirement. I don't think my old arms and creeking shoulder joints will be able to handle it. Must keep passing meds. :icon_sad:
The hospital I worked for was just implementing the hand held scanner for meds. It was a pilot site! I know nurses wern't very happy about it at the time. But there was still alot of kinks that needed to be worked out! Luckily I went to work with a hospice before I had to personally deal with it!
The hospital I worked for was just implementing the hand held scanner for meds. It was a pilot site! I know nurses wern't very happy about it at the time. But there was still alot of kinks that needed to be worked out! Luckily I went to work with a hospice before I had to personally deal with it!
My hospital is entirely computerized, from the docs to the pharmacy, to the nurses. It is nice to not have both paper and electronic charting. We use Meditech and pyxis. Each patient room has a computer in it, so we don't have to drag computers along behind us. There is a hand-held scanner with the computer for scanning meds on the emar. We also have a computer in the med room to pull up the emar if we need to double-check a doctor's orders. We pull meds from the pyxis, go to patient's room, scan meds on the emar and scan their ID band.
If my patient is getting 650mg of tylenol, and they come in 325mg packages, I scan both. BUT, I also read each of my meds before I close the pyxis drawer. I have seen meds stocked in the incorrect drawer! Scary!
I do like our med scanning system. You have to use your nursing common sense, look at your meds carefully (no matter what type of mar you have), and protect your patient. Our meditech charting doesn't take anymore time than paper. I also work in a hospital that still uses paper charting and paper mars and I CANNOT wait until they have gone electronic.
I did my clinical rotation at a hospital that just started to scan the meds and patient's bracelet on wheels, and it's a pain in the butt! It took so much time, that one patient who needed his pain med so badly, kept screaming in agony because he couldn't wait. I felt so bad for him, that all I could do was comfort him. I hope that this improves over time. I know that some hospitals who just received them, is new for everyone, and nurses need to be trained, so it takes some time.
Specializes in Burn, CCU, CTICU, Trauma, SICU, MICU.
i use MAK charting. its icu... so... the computers are at the bedside, the scanners are attached to the computer. I hated it at first, but i've grown to prefer it. It has caught errors I didnt notice from time to time!! I dont like the fact that we cannot change times of administration or the times the meds are due. we have to call pharmacy, ask them to change it and usually, they dont, so it will make it look like you gave meds hours late if the pt was at a test or something. it does have a little message screen on it to pharmacy that I like a lot. "this pt is getting all meds through ngt. can you pls switch xyz to an elixir?" ... very handy!
We just got new med carts and they are so much heavier than the old ones. Fully loaded, that is with the drawers packed with meds, one cart weighs 175lbs. I wonder if it'll get better by the time I reach 65 and on the verge of retirement. I don't think my old arms and creeking shoulder joints will be able to handle it. Must keep passing meds. :icon_sad:
redshiloh
345 Posts
All I can say is we really miss paper!