2011 Nursing Annual Report - FINAL.pub - South Shore Hospital

ImprovementsEvidence Based IV Practice ChangeImplemented to Decrease RiskIn 2010, South Shore Hospital went heparin flushfree as evidence now supports saline to be as effectiveas heparin, while decreasing patient risk. Heparinis an anticoagulant used to prevent a patient’sblood from clotting. It is commonly used in lowdoses in an effort to prevent thrombosis and maintainpatency of centrally placed catheters. Since2006, heparin has been a high profile drug in themedia and in health care. The drug was the cause ofat least 62 deaths in 2008 and has sickened hundredsdue to an active pharmaceutical ingredient.(www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/.../UCM112597)After removing heparin from the flush protocol, thehospital saw occlusion rates decrease or stay thesame. Continued efforts to reinforce this new protocolremained in place in 2011, as we strive to keepour patients healthy and safe.cavity. These newer alternatives to more traditionaltechniques help improve the quality of care for ourpatients.Pediatric Unit Receives GrantIn November of 2010, the Pediatric Unit wasawarded a $25,000 grant from the Ronald McDonaldFoundation, which provided support for refurbishingthe inpatient pediatric lounge. The roomwas updated with sleeping sofas for parents, newtoys, a big screen TV and computer for families, andupdated décor.IV Nurses Utilize New and Safer Waysto Access Patients’ VeinsIV nurses have recognized that rapid vascular accessis needed for the administration of medications andfluid, and can make the difference between life anddeath in critical or unstable patients. Our IV nursesare using alternative ways to get access, such asintraosseous (IO) access and insertion of PICC linesin the internal jugular vein guided by ultrasound.Intraosseous access is defined as the placement of avascular device with a tip located within the bonematrix and is used to introduce fluids or medicationsinto the systemic circulation via the marrowIrma Sivieri, RN, BSN, CRNI, VA‐BC, IntravenousTherapy, demonstrates use of ultrasound invenipuncture.55