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Discussion

Using Equipment with no Training?

Need advice for a situation on my unit. Our new nurses are being expected to use equipment they have not had classes or previous hands on experience with. Our managers do not seem concerned and there are often shifts of nurses where no one is qualified to use the equipment. Am I crazy or is this ridiculous and unsafe?

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    What type of equipment? lift equipment?

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    I definitely agree. It depends on the equipment and procedures involved.

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    It doesn't matter what kind of equipment it is. You need to be trained to be safe.

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    It doesn't matter what kind of equipment it is. You need to be trained to be safe.

    End user off the shelf glucometer designed for consumer use is not the same as iStat, mechanical lifts or PFT machines. So it does depend on the equipment. Formal training for a new thermometer? Not as critical

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    Lol we all had to be trained and signed off on our new glocometers. Yes it was silly but they were so different from the old ones you really did need to learn.

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    We got new defibrillators on our unit about 9 months ago. They're quite different from our old ones and there's a lengthy Powerpoint that's part of the education for use. The manufacturer states within the Powerpoint that it's an adjunct to education but is not intended to replace education. I have never received any face-to-face or hands-on training in the use of them - I was told to read the Powerpoint... and that would be good enough.

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    End user off the shelf glucometer designed for consumer use is not the same as iStat, mechanical lifts or PFT machines. So it does depend on the equipment. Formal training for a new thermometer? Not as critical

    Off the shelf glucometers have room for operator error too, especially if one doesn't read the user guide that comes with the product. It is still necessary to know how to operate the machine correctly and to do quality control checks before the first use and periodically, and to be sure how to tell when the machine is not working correctly. While both glucometers and thermometers are relatively simple pieces of medical equipment, both still need to be used correctly for accurate results. If these pieces of medical equipment are used in one's workplace, without formal training/competency evaluation how is it ensured that everyone is proficient in their use? Patient safety is too important to just assume everyone is using medical equipment correctly, and this applies to any equipment where correct use/accurate results are critical to patient safety.

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    • Experts

    I really think it depends on the equipment, and it depends on what type of "training" you/they are expecting. Sure there are more 'serious'/complicated pieces of equipment that need true training whether that be a class, an online module, one-on-one training, etc. There are other pieces of equipment, such as a temporal thermometer, that I believe someone should be able to operate with training that consists of asking and/or watching someone else do it once.

    The bottom line is, it is YOUR (their) license. You can guarantee if I didn't feel comfortable operating a piece of equipment I didn't feel appropriately trained on, I would speak up.

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    Of course its wrong and unsafe not to be trained on equipment. Ask for training and to have super users. The device company has educators or sales people to train you. Having worked for Baxter IV for 17 years the company will have education available to ensure correct use. The worst thing for patients and manufacturers is misuse of equipment. You can also call companies 800 line to get information, they have folks waiting to speak to you usually 24/7 depending on the equipment.

    Please report, label problem and take malfunctioning equipment out of use to the attention of proper department. The department should report problem to FDA.

    Uncomfortable asking for help? Look up TeamStepps CUS for safety on google or YouTube. Chris

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