Ambu Bags on Nurse Transports
In April 2014, the Quality and Patient Safety Council voted to take Ambu Bags on any nurse transport. This decision was the result of an event that happened a month prior where the patient became apneic on the way to the ICU. Even though the nurse knew what needed to be done, she did not have the necessary supplies.
To prevent similar events, we implemented the new standard of taking an Ambu Bag every time a nurse accompanies the patient to his/her room. I educated RNs and CNAs through email and later one-on-one to reiterate the importance of this change.
Any change is an adjustment to one's practice, so the following months, the council identified barriers for taking Ambu Bags on transports. The main problem was simply forgetting the Ambu Bag. As a means to remember, I posted a sign in the PACU utility room (see picture below) and moved the Ambu Bags to be in the same line of sight as the transport monitors. I also noticed that in the Epic Care Handoff Report, there is an area where the nurse selects items that accompany the patient on transport. The items listed were: oxygen, pulse oximeter, telemetry monitor, and portable suction. I spoke with PACU's Epic liaison, Rachel Romero, in order to add a button to Care Handoff Report stating Ambu Bag. By June 2014, the button was added to the Care Handoff Report.
RNs and CNAs occasionally forget an Ambu Bag while preparing for transport. Council members and other staff remind them of the new standard. There has not been an incidence where an Ambu Bag was needed, but now PACU nurses are prepared.
To prevent similar events, we implemented the new standard of taking an Ambu Bag every time a nurse accompanies the patient to his/her room. I educated RNs and CNAs through email and later one-on-one to reiterate the importance of this change.
Any change is an adjustment to one's practice, so the following months, the council identified barriers for taking Ambu Bags on transports. The main problem was simply forgetting the Ambu Bag. As a means to remember, I posted a sign in the PACU utility room (see picture below) and moved the Ambu Bags to be in the same line of sight as the transport monitors. I also noticed that in the Epic Care Handoff Report, there is an area where the nurse selects items that accompany the patient on transport. The items listed were: oxygen, pulse oximeter, telemetry monitor, and portable suction. I spoke with PACU's Epic liaison, Rachel Romero, in order to add a button to Care Handoff Report stating Ambu Bag. By June 2014, the button was added to the Care Handoff Report.
RNs and CNAs occasionally forget an Ambu Bag while preparing for transport. Council members and other staff remind them of the new standard. There has not been an incidence where an Ambu Bag was needed, but now PACU nurses are prepared.
Epic screenshot of Ambu Bag button in Care Handoff Report
to serve as a reminder to take on transport
to serve as a reminder to take on transport
Ambu Bags on Nurse Transport Emails
ambuemails.docx | |
File Size: | 648 kb |
File Type: | docx |
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