venipuncture supplies, home lab draws

[hhrnohio]

I kno wi can't be the only one with this problem: How do you keep your lab supplies organized? Do you keep a seperate bag with lab supplies in that you take in only when needed or do you carry a few lab supplies in your everyday bag? If you do carry them in your everyday bag what else do you carry in your everyday bag? If you carry them in a seperate bag what kind of bag? I'm always looking to get more organized and recently turned to this forum and and have gotten many helpful ideas.

thanks fellow Nurses

[RubyRN,CHPN]

I have a Rubbermaid plastic fishing tackle box that is about 15 years old. It is tall enough to keep a small sharps container on one side, a small supply of lab bags, a handful of butterflies, a few syringes and transport devices. It has a removable small plastic organizer inside which nicely handles ETOH preps, 2x2 guaze, bandaids, turniquets, and tubes. About once a month I restock and throw away outdated tubes and supplies. Since we use Hemosense for PT/INR, I hardly draw labs as in the past. Those supplies I keep with the Hemosense meter. I keep it around because I haven't found another one quite like it! I take it inside when I know I'll need it. Store it in the car when I don't. Outside is completely wipeable. It's a keeper for sure!

[KateRN1]

ETOH preps,

Vodka? Bourbon? Rye?

[cathrn64]

I keep lab supplies in my everyday bag. My sharps are attached to the outside of the bag. I have often though of trying the tackle box idea, but I haven't actually done it.

[Sarahtonin]

I have 3 bags:

-computer bag for laptop

-vitals bag: BP cuff, pulse ox, stethoscope, thermometer, glucometer, pen light, measuring tape (for wounds), scissors, alcohol pads

-blood bag (very large duffle bag): anything I need for labwork

If I'm not getting labwork on a patient, then I don't take in my bloodwork duffle bag, just the other 2. It works out pretty well for me.

I also have a large Rubbermaid-type of container in my trunk, which my agency calls a "car box". I have things that aren't used everyday, like hats for UA collection, or just extra's that usually the patients have but might not, like foleys, syringes, 4x4's, Duoderm, Tegaderm, etc.

The system works pretty good for me! And I just stock up whenever I'm in the office

[VanessaLee13]

I second the tackle box idea. Mine is actually not a typcial large tacklebox that can fit a sharps container. I found it at walmart near the fishing stuff. It is a flat, clear plastic box (kinda looks like the boxes for beads found in craft sections). But the nicest thing about it is that it has customizable dividers. You can move them around to create openings the size you want. Works perfectly for my lab tubes, alcohol swipes, tourniquets, 2x2s, syringes, and lab bags.

[berube]

i use a "lunch" cooler for my lab supplies,(butterflys,,2x2's alcoholpads, tubes, vacutainers, bandaids, sharps container, tourniquet) i leave it in the trunk and only take it in the home when i have a lab draw,,,i try to keep only the necessary things for a routine visit in my everyday nursing bag, the lighter the better for me,,,i also keep my trunk stocked with "everything else"

[Isabelle49]

I keep lab supplies in a clear plastic zippered case. I can easily see what I have/what I need. I only carry it into the patient's home when needed, along with needle box. Watch out for those needle boxes, they don't always stay closed - I never put the needle box in my bag, I carry it out in the open.