Our facility is currently using Mosby as a reference tool in all clinical areas. A few years ago, we retired some of our IV policies and now reference Mosby on these. I want to know if this is legitimate. An example in the Standards is standard 32. Vascular Access Device Selection which states "Indications and protocols for vascular access devices (VADs) shall be established in organizational policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines and according to manufacturer' directions for use". We revise Mosby to our hospital, however, when Mosby makes a change to their site, it resets any changes that we have made. I have asked several times for the updates, but they forget to send them to me when they are updated, and I don't know when they do it, so I don't know when to ask. Is anyone else doing this and if so, does this replace your hospital policy and procedures?
There are many textbooks that are used for clinical procedures. Mosby is a good publisher and I would expect it to be updated according to the INS standards. Recently I reviewed a chapter on procedure from another publisher and it left out a lot of necessary information, contradicted current manufacturer recommendations, and still talking about using needles for connecting IV set thus ignoring OSHA standards. Procedures can be taken from a text book but your policies can not. Your facility must determine what your internal policies will be. At least this has been my experience. There are so many variations between facilities. I just don't see how a a textbook could include policies that would be most appropriate for your staff knowledge and skills, your patient populations, and the therapies you are providing. Practice guidellines could be written as part of a textbook procedure, but I think policies should be writeen by each facility. 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