The Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle uses signs, red tape and other visual cues to help reduce the number of nurse interruptions, particularly during medication administration, and increase the time they spend at the bedside. Hospitals participating in the Transforming Care at the Bedside project are also working to reduce such interruptions by encouraging patients to take a "quiet time" that allows nurses to chart and advising family members to call at certain hours to reduce the number of pages throughout the day. NurseZone.com (3/18)
What a good idea...SO many interruptions during the shift, these only serve to open the door for medical errors and other events. Hopefully this will be a trend that catches on. It is great to be the kinder, gentler healthcare system (Yawn), but the great reality is that healthcare is not just a business. It is still a system that is about saving lives and making decisions that are not always politically correct. All of this, "No Wait ER", "Open Visiting", and such decisions, have the possibility of only putting more pressures on staff and sometimes patients. Considerations should include the bedside nurse and how they can incorporate changes with little interruption to their often already heavy workload. The 24/7 staff nurse needs a voice in all change.
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