What do you want in a set up of a new room for an incoming patient?

[meghan91]

hey guys! i am currently a nursing student working in an MSICU as a nursing assistant part of our job is to get the room "set up" when an incoming patient is coming to the unit. I wanted to get other nurses opions and things you as nurses would want in the room. I figured I would give a list of things i put in the room and then everyone can add to it or make specific requests like say something specific if it is an open heart or a trauma patient.

the things i put in the room are:

-hook all suctions up with canister and lines

-get the leads ready by straightening out the cords and putting on the electrodes so their ready to put on when the patient arrives

-get BP cord set up

-get pulse OX cord set up

-i have a pack of restraints ready near the sink

-at least 2 set ok lanuerks (sp?, the long things for suction)

-a bag of normal saline

-swabs (for MRSA etc)

-bottle of irrigating water

-2 diffrent types of "needles" the big ones used for NG tubes and the other big one that doesnt have the long plastic tip on it

-a mannifold

-a container to collect an measure urine

-swabs for suctioning ( for oral care)

- a lopez valve

- all the regular patient care things (basin, sopa, wipes, peri care spray, powder, lotion, tissues, etc)

-a pack of crib pads ( the absorbent green pads)

-an irrigation bulb kit

-extra packets of 4x4's

-tape

*and i check all drawers to make sure the room is stocked with normal supplies

i cant think of everythign else i put in the room but that is an idea of what i first put in the room when i know the patient is coming up

what else should i put in the room to make the nurses life a little easier?

as a nursing student i kind of try to think like a nurse would while doing that and thinking what would i want in the room if i were getting a new patient into the ICU but since i am not a nurse yet i cant really think of everything

are there any specific things i need to place in a room if say there is a trauma coming up (ex. motorcycle accident) or say an open heart is coming?

thanks guys for all your help!

[Pheebz777, BSN, RN]

Depending on the patient. For a basic set up not knowing what type of patient you're getting:

Using your list:

the things i put in the room are:

-hook all suctions up with canister and lines. - I only set up 2 cannisters

-get the leads ready by straightening out the cords and putting on the electrodes so their ready to put on when the patient arrives

-get BP cord set up

-get pulse OX cord set up

-i have a pack of restraints ready near the sink - not necessary.

-at least 2 set ok - only 1 Yankhauer is needed.

-a bag of normal saline - not needed

-swabs (for MRSA etc)

-bottle of irrigating water - not needed.

-2 diffrent types of "needles" the big ones used for NG tubes and the other big one that doesnt have the long plastic tip on it - do you mean piston syringes?

-a mannifold - not needed.

-a container to collect an measure urine

-swabs for suctioning ( for oral care)

- a lopez valve - not needed

- all the regular patient care things (basin, sopa, wipes, peri care spray, powder, lotion, tissues, etc) -I don't know about powder but the rest ok.

-a pack of crib pads ( the absorbent green pads) - not a pack, 2 would suffice

-an irrigation bulb kit

-extra packets of 4x4's - not needed

-tape

[8jimi8ICURN]

i want two suction setups, a zero'd bed, 4 sets of iv tubing, iv pumps, monitoring equipment, flushes, poccbg supplies, iv start setups and angiocaths, bath supplies, a new gown, chux/ultrasorbs, a slideboard or sheets, information on the whiteboard. Time arrived:, Weight:, Temp:, and Height:

and any supplies that we might need when we see what the patient has. core temp foley kit, central line dressing change kits, if the patient has wounds: supplies to dress them

AND the unit camera.

have all that and i won't complain.

[xtine618]

Definitely ask the nurses on the unit. Your list seems pretty thorough. I would not necessarily add stuff for NGs. Also, many ICU admits are transfers from other floors so they may already have bathing supplies. Like many have said, zeroing the bed should be added to your list. But one of the things I try to avoid is over stocking the room/drawers. Keep in mind that if you have a patient in isolation, most of that equipment has to be thrown away even if it's in a wrapper when they are discharged.

[IABP4U]

Been a while since anyone posted, but I'm passionate about this topic (partly bc excess "stuff" causes clutter, which drives me nuts). One time I took it upon myself to keep an informal tally of all the excess supplies that are not used after a pt is discharged from my ICU. I then got with my manager to determine the "cost" of one J-loop, lopez valve, suture removal kit, etc. The rest was simple math. When the dust settled, I was shocked at the total dollar amount. My unit used this information as a teaching point for everyone: bring in only what you truly need, return what you don't use (unless the pt is isolation).

[blondesareeasy]

A big, fat, huge NO VISTORS sign is most important of all.