TV in the ED

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We are re-designing our ED. It has been suggested to put TV's in the patient rooms. I am against the idea as our ED is disrupted enough and feel that TV's will encourage more visitors at bedside (always a problem) and loudness issues.

Does anybody else out there have TV's in the ED exam rooms? How do you manage any problems with noise, crowds, etc?

Thanks.

Andrew B

I Can See Benefit And Risk Of Tv's...

They Would Distract Pt's From Pain, And Boredom. They Would Help Pt's And Families Relax, And Lay Offa The Light.

But I'd Hate It. We Have Hard Enough Time Getting Seekers Out Of The Room As It Is. The Pt's Who Have No Place To Go Would Just Keep Complaining Of Pain So They Wouldnt Have To Leave.

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Specializes in Emed, LTC, LNC, Administration.

But I'd Hate It. We Have Hard Enough Time Getting Seekers Out Of The Room As It Is. The Pt's Who Have No Place To Go Would Just Keep Complaining Of Pain So They Wouldnt Have To Leave.

I've found that turning the TV off and telling them it's time to go works. Kind of blunt, but I've never been called on it yet. AFA seekers, I've had decent luck telling them they're always going to have some level of pain the rest of their lives and to expect to be pain free is unrealistic. Telling them straight out that pain is going to be a part of their lives that they HAVE to accept seems to work. AFA the hard core ones, we have a system whereby the physician gives the patient a prewritten letter that tells them they will not receive narcotics at our ED any longer, but we will see and treat them. It also tells them they NEED to find a private physician and we give them a list of those on staff (including two pain management physicians). So far, it's been working pretty well.

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Cable TV, air conditioning, room service (as noted in prior posts) -- hmmm! we were going to go out of town to go on vacation, but............:chuckle

To all of you who work in ER -- KUDOS BIG TIME!! I am not sure that my slightly sarcastic nature would not enlarge to a grossly sarcastic nature, become rather blunt and offensive and eventually get my hinney fired!!! Keep up the good work!! I know things can get harried in your wold in a big way -- I am THRILLED that so many of you like it -- that means I don't have to !!!!!:)

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Cable TV, air conditioning, room service (as noted in prior posts) -- hmmm! we were going to go out of town to go on vacation, but............:chuckle

To all of you who work in ER -- KUDOS BIG TIME!! I am not sure that my slightly sarcastic nature would not enlarge to a grossly sarcastic nature, become rather blunt and offensive and eventually get my hinney fired!!! Keep up the good work!! I know things can get harried in your wold in a big way -- I am THRILLED that so many of you like it -- that means I don't have to !!!!!:)

our hospital is spending a lot of money to adopt the "planetree" model of care, which pretty much attempts to make the patient feel they are at a spa. tries to make a homey atmosphere, massage therapist, hottubs, pets, special meals.

i just dont get it. i know pt's will like it, but is it going to change the actual care? is it going to change what i do? i really dont think so. im pretty sure the way i take care of my pt's is the best way i know, and as i learn new skills, i may change my outlooks in minor ways, but the basics will never change. abc's keep ppl alive. thats what i do. stall the inevitable.

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"i know pt's will like it"

Ya think?! Who wouldn't -- and just think.... medicaid could pay for your "day at the spa" too! :uhoh21: WOW! Massages and all huh?! I don't suppose they have a massage therapist, gourmet snacks and cable in the staff lounge do they? :rolleyes: (not the nursing staff lounge anyway -- maybe the doctor's lounge!):chuckle

IT is only 8Am and it already one of those days here!! I swear, I am feeling the need to take my typically nonviolent self down to some offices and knock some administrative heads together -- it probably wouldn't help, but I might feel a little better. All I want is for the staffing gods to allow me to get my units adequetly staffed with qualified,caring, honest nurses -- I do not want gift baskets and massages for the patients, I would rather focous on getting them well and out of here!!! And I want my staff to go home feeling the satisfaction of having been able to do their jobs well because they had enough help, enough equiptment and enough support from the upper mucky-mucks. ( WOW! Where did that come from?! I am NOT taking psychotropic meds, didn't smoke any hallucinagens at breakfast -- didn't even play a motivational tape on the drive to work -- must merely be an attack of conscience -- better lay down for a bit -- maybe it will go away!!:rolleyes: )

Hope I haven't offended anyone with my gallons of sarcasm so early in the morning! If I have -- I'm sorry -- I would tell you that I won't do it again, but.... I am relatively certain that I will, in all likelihood, do it again. It is however nothing personal and actually not even intentional. I'm a what you read is what you get kind of gal -- so if I am looking to offend -- I'll probably announce my intentions prior to my posting so as to leave no room for doubt!!

Hang in there!!

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Specializes in Emed, LTC, LNC, Administration.

Msmercy:

No need to appologize. I think we ALL want the same basic things you described. Adeuqate staffing among the HIGEST of desires all the way around.

Unfortunately, that isn't going to happen in the current climate. That being said, TV's in private ED exam rooms, IMHO, have come in handy more than once in helping to aleviate some stress the patients have had, and thereby some of the stress on the staff. Do I LIKE the fact that we've had to do this? NO! But until something changes to makes nursing a more desirable career, we're going to have to come up wiht a few other things to do the same.

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I have decided to chang the climate for nurses at my facility! I can do nothing about staffing (since I don't hire, fire or execute), I can't purchase the extra's (ie: TVs, stereos, cordless phones or pda's for each nurse) and I can't fix our food service vendor in the cafeteria. (EEWWW!) I am merely the lowly staff development girl. -- So know what, each week I bring in a bunch of cookies:) -- sometimes on day shift, sometimes on nights, sometimes I appear (unexpectedly, of course) with a bag of chocolate :) at a unit meeting, I wear my pager 24/7 and actually encourage my staff to call when they are overwhelmed and need to vent. I post comics and zenish stuff randomly in bathrooms, breakrooms and locker roomson occasion:rolleyes: . I have been known to break the cardinal rule of eating lunch "with your equals" (gag, gag) and actually sit with a bunch of staff nurses :p and we laugh hysterically or cry like babies for our 20 mins. I don't take 2 hour lunch breaks, :angryfire I keep appointments and if I tell someone I will "check into something for them -- I do it!" Aren't I incredible!!:rotfl: NO! But ya know what? My dad always told me that if I wasn't part of the soloution -- I was part of the problem -- and then typically added that if he found any serious problems that I was a part of he would kick my hind end!!:)

I know the problems that we as nurses have to face are HUGE and can seem overwhelming and never ending -- but if I focous on all that crap, I will run like heck to Wal-mart and fill out an application to be the person who works the 3A shift, breaking down boxes in back -- thus avoiding the need to be cheery, personable and friendly! :p So, instead, I am going to work my fanny off, presenting the needs over and over to the administrator, senior directors and managers and then do everything I can do to help the force that truly keeps this place open -- our nurses. I have been told that I am not a typical skirt nurse and I don't fit in with the usual mold or expectations of my job. My favrite comment is " you aren't doing things like ______( the last gal that had my position) did!" My reply -- maybe that's why I am here and she isn't any more!

So ya'll -- don't despair!! There are some of us who aren't at the bedside anymore:crying2: who remember how nasty it can get, how frustrating it is to work short and to pull massive overtime hours. There are a few of us who appreciate what you do a WHOLE LOT!! I wish I could be more active in the war zone with you, but who knows; maybe through random acts of kindness and encouragement we can change our cornor of the universe ((Probably not -- but doesn't tha sound profound? I think the constant nagging and the reports I present citing poor staffing and burn-out might do more:rolleyes: , but .... it sounded good!)

Time to get off my soap box -- my beeper is buzzing and it ticles so I have to go!!! Hang in there! There are some of us working really hard to make some changes and we are SOOOOOO proud of you and want to make things better so you can be the best cotton-oickin nurses in the world!!

Love, "Pollyanna"

While the above signature may reflect a huge level of sarcasm ( again) I really am trying the ideas above -- will let you know if I am still here in five years -- it may not be a very popular system with the upper level mucky-mucks!

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we have been operating in our new er for one year now and have tv's in place. we were all concerned with having tv's in each room with the reservations of people just wanting to hang out to watch their shows along with other concerns. however, tv's in each room have been a wonderful benefit to us. the complaints of wait time, use of call bells, ama,s and people coming into the nursing station (in my obsveration, by some but not by all...lol) have decreased compared to previous. when the doctor or nurses go into a room and the tv is on, we cut it off to talk with the patient/family and turn it back on before leaving the room. experiencing this has changed my previous concerns. so, i say yes to having tv's in pt rooms in the er:)

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Specializes in ER, PACU, OR.

I have been out of our ER now for 19 months. However, at the time I left, they were considering TV's in the ER for all the pt's d/t the "Inconvenient waiting times".

I think it's BS. If your in the ER, your there for a reason.............and TV should definately NOT be a issue.

out.............

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Specializes in Hospitalist.

We have flat panel TVs in almost all of our main rooms that are mounted high on the walls and they are a godsend. They really decrease the complaints about wait times. Especially people who have to have abd CTs and have 2 wait at least 2 hours for the prep and then an hour for the CT to be read. I feel sorry for my pts when they get one of the rooms that doesn't have a TV.

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I was against them when they were first put in our ED, but now am totally for them...they keep the patients busy and focusing on something besides the wait and discomfort. It's hard to wait, hey? There should be volume controls, though, some people turn them UP REAL LOUD. When I enter the room and the patient won't stop watching TV while I talk to them , I simply turn it off after a warning-just like with my kids.

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we have TV's in the trauma rooms! "Sir, i'm going to be putting a tube in your throat to help you breathe. Would you like to watch the news or "Survivor" while i'm doing it?" :chuckle :roll :chuckle

Are you sure they wouldn't want to be watching Fear Factor instead?

Actually, how about a new type of Fear Factor--one where all the contestants are health care workers...and all the "feats" would be health care procedures !!!!

On a more serious note...

When I had an abdominal hysterectomy, I just wanted to be able to doze off to the radio...NOT the TV. When you wear glasses, you don't like to doze off in them... Unfortunately, even though I brought a radio to the hospital, there was no radio reception. Seriously...a radio makes more sense to me when I'm sick than a tv...

NurseFirst

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