My hospital has gone to electronic Mars. A laptop on a cart we give meds as entered by pharmacy and checked by us, scan each med and the pt arm band, like produce at the check out counter. I have found it has corrected me from more errors than I ever cared to admit. God what I would give for a little more time for pt caring. Interesting poll.
We are going to that system in several months. Glad to hear a good report on it. Recently we had a patient that had local skin reaction to sulfadene salve. It was clearing written on MAR that he was alergic to sulfa but no one not even the pharmacy made the connection. Perhaps the computerized system would have picked up on it.
I'd like the opportunity to try this system!
We have also been using phones we carry with us, the pts call us directly for their needs, now they are asking us to try the over head piece to free both hands to work while we talk. I have found this very disconcerting when I want to talk to another nurse, as I can not tell when they are free for me to talk to or not. My deep concern is that the pts will feel the same way, and how much more difficult this may make for us to keep pt confidentiality, with all this multitasking while we are suppose to be free to do more pt care at the same time. So far I have refused this new and improved work saver??? It would free my hands for meds and other stuff during all the times I am put on hold.Any comments regarding this.
One of my concerns is the ability to concentrate on the main task at hand....are thye asking for to much "multitasking?"
I had been asked to get a headset that i could use while I pulled arterial lines and was holding pressure...I didn't agree....was afraid I'd loose control of the situation and not pay close enough attention. in the end, my superiors agreed...thank goodness!
Oh, yes I agree whole heartedly, If my brain could stretch to cover so many varied topics and do good at each at the same time, I would have loved to learn to play a pipe organ instead of a saxaphone which plays one good note at a time. LOL
Last night I carried a pager, a locater button and a bulky cell phone. I am not the floor manager, nor was I charging--and I was not working on a particularly large floor. I felt like one of the Three Stooges trying to find out which one was ringing. More than one patient has told me to go tend to the other matter, thinking it was more important than what I was doing at the time. I am beginning to suspect that the inmates have taken over the asylum since some of these decisions must have been made by someone completely out of touch.
You have to wonder just how much floor time, the decision makers have.
Is it that hard to tell, that the people making up the "rules" are not catering to the nurses convenience?
They implement policies that are "cost effective" will "improve morale" and "recruitment/retention." However in my experience, they're much more effective when nurses have some input.
Sometimes I get the feeling it's the "bean counters" making decisions based on strictly financial/public relations issues rather than what will allow the nurse to provide quality care.
I usually have a cell phone and I hate it.
Andrew Lopez, RN
http://www.4nursing.com
Computers are only as good as the people programming and using them.
We've had Pyxis Machines for years and it doesn't correct mistakes by physicians writing illegible orders, or pharmacy/unit secretaries taking them off incorrectly or nurses that are being rushed and make mistakes.
Bout the only thing they're good for is saving time vs running to pharmacy for common meds, and for making sure the patient gets billed for every freakin Tylenol.
Andrew Lopez, RN
http://www.nursinghumor.com
And the Pyxis (or Med-Dispense in my facility) is only as good as the pharmicist programming it. Ours was a nightmare until all the nurses boycotted it. Admin fixed that after about 3 days of us ganging up on the pharmacist who was whinning about the nurses bothering him. Inputting data and filling the darn thing makes it a whole lot user friendly!!!
The trueism is, there will always be med errors and it requires the diligence of everyone from the doctor to the patient and all parties in between to keep them to a minimum. Doesn't matter if you have a computer or are doing it all by hand, if one person drops the ball an error will be made. Sad but true.
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