Water

[C-lion]

Where you work, are you allowed to have water (in a covered container) at your workstation?

[Mommy&RN, BSN, RN]

There is supposed to be a "clean area" on each unit for staff drinks. We usually keep our drinks near the area we chart, so that it is handy.

[Twinmom06, ASN, APN]

Haha, same for us!

NOCs? It's like "Move all those charts, we're bringing in a buffet!"

ROFL!!!

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

Our manager says no, but we eat & drink in our station. We are often too busy to get our earned breaks so we feel we deserve to eat during the day when hungry. Shoot the docs participate and bring in food to share half of the time :)

[MunoRN, RN]

Regardless of the regulatory/survey group, the rule comes down to what areas they interpret as being higher risk for contamination, which can vary from one surveyor to another even within the same organization.I tend to agree that the risk of contamination isn't likely to be any different in Nursing "core" areas than in the breakroom.

Nurses don't typically perform any more hygiene when going into the breakroom than they do coming out of a patient room, which would seem to suggest that any area beyond that 'decontamination point' of leaving the room, is of equal contamination risk.

[Elle23]

At my last hospital job, we could have any drink as long as it was covered. Thankfully that included my daily 4 pm Starbucks run!

[cassie77775]

Nope, we aren't allowed. Which makes for a lot of dehydrated nurses. We have to have it in the break room only.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

No. Considered an infection control issue. However, the docs have coffee, , the residents have potato chips... Ad Nauseum.

Please see my thread .

[h=1]Fed up with the "rules"[/h]

[proud nurse, BSN, RN]

Hmmm...that's a good question. If we can't have water, then nobody is following the policy. Everybody has something to drink with them when they're charting at the nurses station. Some even will have a drink with them on the COW. I work the weekend program on 3rd shift. Sometimes it gets a little carried away with food and drink at the station. Plus I can't tell you how many styrofoam cups I throw away from the other shifts.

[doppelganger2]

We have a "hydration station" which is out on the main area where we work but not so close that it is near any direct patient care areas. I manage to drink at least 3L of water in my 12hr shifts

[Altra, BSN, RN]

Not a JC issue, but an issue with OSHA ... and my state DOH, just for good measure.

[sapphire18]

No. But on nights, it doesn't matter;)

[C-lion]

No. But on nights, it doesn't matter;)

L.O.L. Yes, I have noticed some leftover crumbs and cups when I get to work at 0645. One reason among many I have been wanting to switch to nights.