How are other documenting when tubings and drsgs are due to be changed for vascular access devices? We have been documenting this in the electronic medical record. There are some nurses that would rather just label the tubing/drsg with the date and time it is due to be changed. In the past, if a line was counted as a CRBSI, we have looked at documentation to determine if the appropriate care and maintenance protocols were followed. Should tubing and drsg change due dates be documented in the medical record?
The standard of practice is to document when these procedures are performed, but there is no requirement to have a type of documentation for when they are scheduled to be done. The process for this would be whatever is the best system for your facility or agency and there could be many differences. Administration sets can be labeled with the date up or the date to be changed. Dressings should be labeled with the date the change was done. Nurses should know the practice guideline for changing these and follow that but reminders of when these are scheduled to be done is not a standard of practice. Lynn
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
126 Main Street, PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861