Solutions for Drinks at Nursing Station?

Nurses General Nursing

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Drinks at the nursing station is most definitely a heated topic. Has anyone found a solution to this issue that both nurses and management are happy with?

At the hospital i'm at, we have kind of a decent sized backroom at the nursing stations; a lot like this picture

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For closed drinks; what about putting the drinks in a stackable sealed container like this?

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Stackable so they can be kept neatly on the side or corner of the back room and this way the drinking bottles themselves will never come in direct contact with anything "contaminated." If management is worried about the inside of the containers becoming contaminated through communal/repeated use, the solution for that could be using the disinfection wipes before a nurse puts her/his drink in there at the start of their shift.

Thoughts? Other ideas?

Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

I work in clinic and we ALL have drinks at our desks. When you're hired, part of your welcome "package" is a logo mug with a lanyard, pens, etc inside. As long as cups are covered, we are good. Snacks happen too (we all have our stash!), but as long as we're not obvious about munching, our manager is cool with it.

And no, we do not set specimens down on our desks!!

Is this a true post or is it product placement?

Enquiring minds want to know.

Have you ever set a lab spec on the desk? there in lies the reason you are not allowed to have food and drink at the nurses' station. and its OSHA not JCH

Eeeeewwww, no!!! No! No! No!

**gags**

Specializes in Reproductive & Public Health.
Have you ever set a lab spec on the desk? there in lies the reason you are not allowed to have food and drink at the nurses' station. and its OSHA not JCH

I understand the stated reason for not allowing food/drinks at the nurses' station, but it is a silly reason. All surfaces are potentially contaminated, and unless there is blood spatters on the counter or something, I am just going to go about my business. Putting my covered drink on my station is significantly less likely to cause some sort of mass epidemic (or cause me to contract hepatitis B ) than resting my hand there, or putting the chart down and then bringing that chart into a patient's room. By that logic, we should all be required to stand at least 3 feet from all surfaces, hands above waist level, at all times.

Of course I am not going to bring food or drink into patient care areas, that's common sense. I am quite confident that my education has prepared me to make a rational decision about where to keep my drink so as best to protect myself and my patients.

Specializes in Reproductive & Public Health.

These are the same regulators who recently required us to move all our ammonia salts into the med room, because they require a doctor's order apparently. It is too dangerous to keep them discreetly taped (out of reach and sight of patients and visitors) near syncopal hot spots , you know, where we need them. I am not sure that all of their requirements are based upon what is actually best for patients and hospital employees.

I want to know if the OP works for Glad.

We can have covered drinks at the nurses station only, none down hallways (since they are patient care areas).

Night shift is way more laid back about it. No one has ever said anything to me about my water bottle and coffee cup.

yes, we noc shifters are much more laid back....

I want to know if the OP works for Glad.

Maybe a joint commission worker who gets kick backs for promoting glad products??

If a doctor can have his coffee at the desk, my bottle of SEALED water should not be an issue...

Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

So....I shouldn't lick the counter at the nurses station?

So....I shouldn't lick the counter at the nurses station?

I know it's a struggle, but try to contain yourself. :roflmao:

Specializes in Family Practice, Mental Health.
Being in Quality......I am one of the dreaded "enforcers" of the beverage rule. With that said, I allow drinks out only if they have a lid. Nurses need to drink and potty to prevent UTI's. At my hospital we give our associates logo cups that they can use at their stations.

Whoa Nellie!!! Backup.

To whom are you referencing as "Associate"?

I HOPE you are not calling nursing professionals "Associates"......

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