is your unit running out of supplies too?

corky1272RN · Apr 20, 2009

Most of the time our AA borrows supplies from another clinic or buys from a store when we run out. But the point is why are we always running out of supplies? Right now we are out of 4x4s and have to use 2x2s for everything, not a big deal but now we will probably run out of 2x2s because we are using more. So none of the other clinics are having this much trouble? One day last week we actually ran out of heparin... HEPARIN! I could not start the 1st shift until we had some, not even any for boluses. Anyway the AA went to go borrow some, she told me to go ahead start the tx and she would be there w/in 45 min with the heparin. I told her no no no way was I starting tx w/o heparin boluses. I reminded her that she is not a nurse, did not know what she was talking about, that is part of a prescription, etc. She got kinda of testy with me but later apologized. :madface:

bluemartian, BSN · Apr 20, 2009

Im currently working on the sales side,Id prefer being on clinic side but it is what it is and I can tell you that many medical supply companies have raised their prices. it makes me sick to see this happen,due to "overseas material costs" and companies trying to get max profit, I try to keep a good relationship with the NM and tech mgr, and at time if they need a box or 2 of supplies, I will be glad to provide it. Just know that there are several me too companies, but most clinics lock into the big distributors who " bundle " everything. Calling any manufacturer for samples chances are they are more than happy to provide you "evaluation product" for free. Keep a few business cards of your suppliers(disposables in your back pocket as a resource, worst thing they may want to visit for an inservice and bring food :twocents:

workingmomRN · Apr 21, 2009

I brought up this issue to our ROD one time & told her that at the end of every month it is like a swap meet with clinics all borrowing from each other to make it through until the 1st of the month comes around & they can actually order supplies again. She just kind of laughed it off, but I said it should not be this way, that the staff should have the supplies they need to do the job like it is supposed to be done. Our stash of supplies that have been hidden away has carried us through alot of times. Not having heparin is believable too. We have had to borrow heparin as well, but we did get it before we ran out the next day. I went to help cover at another clinic & had to bring cases of NS back with me so we could start up the next day. That template is just crazy.

Tish88 · Apr 21, 2009

WorkingmomRN - that is just "nuts". I could not work with conditions like that.... if one of the patients don't call their network or the dept of health, I as a staff member would anonymously be calling them and turn them in - just to improve the working conditions and to get the needed supplies for these patients that they deserve!

Seems like these clinics are trying to keep their cost per treatments down each month, however if they are borrowing from other clinics, this does not truly reflect the cost/treatments.

workingmomRN · Apr 27, 2009

The bottom line is what is most important to the large dialysis companies, & patient care is not the top priority. I know that if they are not turning a profit that they could afford to stay in business, but sometimes the cost-cutting is just overkill.

ilovecatsRN · May 9, 2009

I totally agree! At my clinic, they were actually thinking of one way to save money for supplies was to get each pt their very own baggy of supplies! :cool: Right now we actually buy the sm individual rolls of paper tape. So the baggy would have a lg roll of tape and gauze for that pt. Any gauze that was left over from that day's tx would not be discarded but put into the baggy for next time. I think this is another way to contaminate other areas of the clinic and cause infections!.. Can you believe it!! :eek:

Happy2CU · May 19, 2009

Cannulating without gloves........ I can tell you that I would not be working there. If there were no gloves, I would not accept my assignment and I would leave the building. That's beyond horrid.......we run out of some supplies sometimes...... but gloves. ??? Terrible.

GeauxNursing · May 20, 2009

oh my gosh! the way you describe your teammates, this must be a Davita clinic. but regardless I cannot believe this is happening. I would refuse to work under those conditions. Cannulating without, no, no, ACCESSING catheters without gloves??? Absolutely not. Your license is being put in jeopardy, as well as your health, non to mention the health of your patients!! A previous poster is right--it's a surprise a patient hasn't filed a complaint! We just had a federal survey based on a bogus patient complaint and we did everything we were supposed to do. Infection control is always at the top of the list.

In my region here in Dallas, our supplies are ordered by the central supply manager, who is also in charge of our central reuse program. It's been this way going on 3 years and it seems to be be okay. Of course there isn't always the best communication re: dialyzers. We lose patients, we gain patients, sometimes the dialyzers don't keep up, but this is easily dealt with, since the warehouse is right down the street.

If we are running low on something, like gloves or lines, and our shipment isn't due for another day, the guy will run some stuff down to us right away.

I hope this situation resolves itself soon. What will you do if you are faced with a no-glove situation? Good luck!

GeauxNursing · May 20, 2009

I totally agree! At my clinic, they were actually thinking of one way to save money for supplies was to get each pt their very own baggy of supplies! Right now we actually buy the sm individual rolls of paper tape. So the baggy would have a lg roll of tape and gauze for that pt. Any gauze that was left over from that day's tx would not be discarded but put into the baggy for next time. I think this is another way to contaminate other areas of the clinic and cause infections!.. Can you believe it!!

Well that can't be any better than having MRSA patients assigned their own BP cuffs(the paper-ish ones), stored in a ziploc in 2 bottom drawers of the area where all the other clean supplies (tape, gauze, syringes, etc) are. This is practice in my clinic. and most of the time they make it back into their bag once in the drawer. Most of the time. I just don't know how to suggest a better practice than that? Any ideas?

And do you have patients that go at your supply drawer like we're at a Golden Corral on Sunday for brunch?? "I just need some gauze...I'm going to grab some alcohol pads right quick..." What? No!!

corky1272RN · May 20, 2009

Yeah, actually it was not me in the no gloves situation. Another charge nurse dealt with it, she told me that she would reassure the pts when she was giving the meds that nothing she was doing ( while not gloved) would hurt them. I told her that I would have refused to work until gloves were bought. I also said the gloves are not there just to protect the pt from us but also to protect me from the pt!!! Anyway lately if we run out of gloves or gauze, the secretary makes a run to walmart or walgreens. At least lately we have been doing well on the supplies, but only because she has been overordering (:chuckle).