Our nurses draw up patients' medications at the nurses' station, in the middle of everything, often with their backs turned, so those passing can't see what they're working on. As a result, it's easy to inadvertently interrupt them in mid-task. Earlier this year we took action against such distractions.
We bought a large package of red dish towels from a big-box store and distributed them among our nursing staff with instructions for anyone who is working with medications to drape a towel over her shoulder. And for everyone else to never bother a red-towel draped colleague unless there's a fire or a code.
A red towel on a medication handler's shoulder is a visible solution even on pastel or multi-colored scrubs. It's an inexpensive solution, too. Everyone knows what it means. It is quite literally a "red flag" for safety. We haven't seen a medication error since we handed out the towels, and that's a really incredible result.
Linda Vossler, RN, CNOR, director of surgical services at"Bert Fish Medical Center" in New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
