no supplies for patient care

cmo421 · Oct 9, 2007

Do Not, I repeat Do Not, chart about supplies or lack of in ur notes. Fill out an incident report if u have to. Too many of these will alert RM and ur manager will get a call. Each and every staff member can fill one out for there pt if needed. If u r in a Critical Care area, I would think u have a night superviser u can call when in need of things u do not have. Enough running by the superviser will get u better supplied. Frustrating I know. Come in a bit early when there is an aide or tech around. Go do a quick check and if u do not have the minimum of things u need, have them get them before they leave. Its not right I know, but keep on complaining and u will get results.

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Oct 9, 2007

I'd be curious to see what everyone's answers would be. At least in the hospital, don't you have other units etc to try and pull from?

LTC issues...no syringes, no lancets for accu checks, no test strips, no foleys, no tape for dressings (We had cases of athletic tape??) no 4x4s,no cling, no IV tubing, No IVF, etc....you get the picture. Of course this happens on the weekends too! I normally call and try to get a STAT shipment from our Pharm. (we get our supplies from another, cheaper place) If it is emergent, and I can't do my job without the supplies....They might need a hospital trip to get the IVS etc. Yeah...doesn't make a lot of sense, but If I can't provide the care for them ............

leslymill · Oct 9, 2007

If the supplies are in the hospital and you are being denied access, I would think that would be a tad negligent. Especially for ICU. I would be concern about getting supplies in an emergency situation. In this day and age I find it ridiculous that an acute care facility doesn't have some policy in place to get needed supplies after hours.

Only time I had trouble getting supplies was with a Home Health company declaring bankruptcy and employees going on strike for not getting paid.

Dolce, RN · Oct 9, 2007

That is ridiculous:angryfire!

The only time I have seen a consistent pattern of hospitals lacking supplies is when there is about to be a change-over in ownership/leadership etc. I would begin calling the house supervisor when your shift starts and notify him/her of the supplies that are lacking. If no supplies are delivered I would document in an incident report the supplies that were lacking, who you contacted, what you had to do to "make do" etc. I am a big believer in incident reports because they really do get things done!

unikuelady, RN · Oct 9, 2007

Thank you everyone for your replies. I think bombarding the house supervisor with a list just might do the trick. I will try that tonight by going in a few minutes early and checking out the supplies and get the list started, otherwise Its just too busy with change of shift report and checking on the patients. :idea:

lindarn · Oct 10, 2007

That is ridiculous:angryfire!
The only time I have seen a consistent pattern of hospitals lacking supplies is when there is about to be a change-over in ownership/leadership etc. I would begin calling the house supervisor when your shift starts and notify him/her of the supplies that are lacking. If no supplies are delivered I would document in an incident report the supplies that were lacking, who you contacted, what you had to do to "make do" etc. I am a big believer in incident reports because they really do get things done!

And PLEASE don't forget to MAKE COPIES OF ALL THE INCIDENT REPORTS THAT YOU WRITE UP!! If you have time, make a list of all the suppplies that are short, and another list of the supplies that are needed by the patients.

After sending off an incident report to Risk Management, I would also send a copy to the senior partner of the law firm that defends the hospital. He/She would be most interested in the liabilities that the administration is putting the hospital in.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

User123456 · Oct 10, 2007

[quote name=

After sending off an incident report to Risk Management, I would also send a copy to the senior partner of the law firm that defends the hospital. He/She would be most interested in the liabilities that the administration is putting the hospital in.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington[/quote]

that will get things going!

Jolie, BSN · Oct 10, 2007

Do Not, I repeat Do Not, chart about supplies or lack of in ur notes. Fill out an incident report if u have to. Too many of these will alert RM and ur manager will get a call. Each and every staff member can fill one out for there pt if needed. If u r in a Critical Care area, I would think u have a night superviser u can call when in need of things u do not have. Enough running by the superviser will get u better supplied. Frustrating I know. Come in a bit early when there is an aide or tech around. Go do a quick check and if u do not have the minimum of things u need, have them get them before they leave. Its not right I know, but keep on complaining and u will get results.

I understand the notion of using incident reports to keep "internal problems" confidential from patients, families, and attorneys. But without mentioning lack of supplies, how would a nurse chart the failure to give a scheduled antibiotic in such a way that she does not become the target of blame?

cmo421 · Oct 10, 2007

I understand the notion of keeping using incident reports to keep "internal problems" confidential from patients, families, and attorneys. But without mentioning lack of supplies, how would a nurse chart the failure to give a scheduled antibiotic in such a way that she does not become the target of blame?

I am sure u could put in the med kardex that it was unavailable and document why only in ur incident report. Just be careful with ur charting,legal issues could bit u if it ever went to court. Also,from experience, follow the chain of command. Do not go straight to the top. Start with ur local manager and then go up. When u jump to the top it really gets the middle people angry and they will let u know in some way,shape or form. It is also just correct "politics". Good Luck!

Zookeeper3 · Oct 10, 2007

agh, you guys always beat me to the great ideas;)

-night supervisor, it either is or isn't their job to get you the supplies, trust me, if it isn't they'll help fix this

-e-mail or call the risk management department

-e-mail you boss in a very objective brief way about the lack of supplies and ask to be part of the process to get a correct inventory #

-know that many managers decrease par levels to keep their budget down, that's why you need to do all of the above, not just wait for the manager to fix it

-last, get your peers involved too, many people are sometimes heard louder than one.

-don't document any of this in the legal chart, unless you have to say, "med held, unavailable", but this would only be after the supervisor stated they had NO access to the pharmacy.

MAISY, RN-ER, BSN, RN · Oct 10, 2007

I am not sure about not charting about why care is not being rendered. We were always told that if a patient's condition changes and there are concerns you chart who you informed and their response or lack thereof. I don't see the difference in documenting that a med had not arrived, or a central line kit was ordered from central, or any other item missing from the floor and what was done about it. I think it's all in the wording, but is necessary to show that the RN didn't just decide that the pending order is not important to carry out. I believe incident reports are important, but nothing moves people to action than chart review and seeing their name in print. Order: Foley catheter, Strict I & O, Lasix 40mg iv push. Charting would go something like: foley catheter insertion will be completed upon delivery from central supply-spoke with manager john smith who states item on way. Meanwhile, Lasix administered, patient aware output needs to be measured with bedpan. (I know corny), but actually something I would write.

Maisy;)