Maryann Viereck RN,BS,CEN,COHN-S 

Employee Health Coordinator

Cape Regional Medical Center

2 Stone Harbor Blvd

Cape May Court House, NJ 08210

phone 609-463-2512

fax 609-463-2910

 

I am attempting to develop a system to warn ancillary departments of combative patients. Ex patient admitted to med surg floor and is extremely combative.  This patient is chronically combative so the floor staff is familiar and do take precautions when approaching the patient. The problem is when lab comes in the morning at 6 am to draw labs and has no idea of the danger and approaches the patient to gently wake him and he kicks them in the face injuring their jaw.  I wanted to have some sort of symbol placed on the door  however there are already so many symbols representing fall precautions, turn every two hours etc. Does anyone use a symbol to represent if a patient is combative that the meaning would be only for the staff’s understanding of what the symbol meant? Any suggestions would be appreciated to decrease risk of injuries in our ancillary departments.

 

Cathy Senior RN BSN CDE

Employee Health Director

Penn Highlands DuBois

100 Hospital Avenue

P.O. Box 447

DuBois Pa 15801

Phone 814-375-3392

Fax 814-372-2610

cesenior@phhealthcare.org

www.phhealthcare.org

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