Ppg Gdch Nur 39 Escorting Patient

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GULFDIAGNOSTICCENTER

HOSPITAL

NURSING POLICY Policy No:MED-NUR-P0039/12

TITLE: PATIENT ESCORT POLICY,

INTERNAL TRANSFER: NURSING

Issue Date: October 2012

Revision No.: Original 01

Department : Nursing Revision Date :

Section : Nursing Care Next Revision : October 2014

Distribution : Hospital Wide Page 1 of 8

PATIENT ESCORT POLICY, INTERNAL TRANSFER:NURSING

APPROVAL SHEET

Prepared by:Name Signature Date

Ms. Jennelyn PaderanActing Charge Nurse, In-patient Ward

Reviewed by:

Name Signature Date

Ms. Nemesio AbusoActing Head of Nursing

Mr. Zuher ArawiQuality Manager

Approved by:

Name Signature Date

Dr Emad Yassin Al RahmaniMedical Director

Mrs. Jamal KaddouraHospital Director and Co-Founder

DOCUMENT AMENDMENT RECORD SHEET

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Appendix: Yes [ ] No [ ]


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Date Description of Change Page EffectedRevisionNumber

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

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SUBJECTS PAGE NO.

1. PURPOSE 4

2. POLICY4

3. SCOPE

4

4. RESPONSIBILITY

4

5. PROCEDURE5

6. REFERENCE6

7. RELATED DOCUMENTS 7

8. ATTACHMENT8

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1. PURPOSE

1.1 To clearly define the role and responsibilities of nurses when escorting patients duringtransfers within Gulf Diagnostic Center Hospital.

1.2 To ensure patient safety, privacy and dignity at all times.1.3 To clearly define which patients require a nurse escort and which level of nurse is

required.1.4 To clearly define where responsibility for each type of transfer lies.

2. POLICY

2.1 Gulf Diagnostic Center Hospital has a duty of care to ensure that its patients are safe andhave access to appropriate nursing expertise at all times.

2.2 This policy includes all inpatient movement within Gulf Diagnostic center Hospital.2.3 This policy does not address patients being transferred from other facilities.2.4 All patients will be assessed against set criteria to determine if a nurse escort is

required, (Refer to Criteria for Determining Level of Nursing Escort - Attachment

#1 and which level of nurse is acceptable.2.5 High risk / sedated patients may require medical and/or anesthetic escort in addition to anursing escort.

2.6 The escorting nurse should have knowledge of the patients condition, plan ofcare, medications and treatment, and where appropriate the necessary monitoringequipment that needs to be used.

2.7 The escorting nurse will ensure that the appropriate documentation has beenprepared and accompanies the patient.

2.8 Standard precautions will be used for all patients. When escorting patients withknown infectious diseases, the necessary precautions will be taken and thereceiving department / facility will be informed.

2.9 Patient privacy and dignity will be maintained at all times.

3. SCOPE

3.1 Escorting patients during transfers within Gulf Diagnostic Center Hospital.

4. RESPONSIBILITY

4.1 Registered nurses4.2 Health care assistants

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4.3 Porter

5. PROCEDURE

5.1 General Points5.1.1 All patients will be assessed by an RN to determine if a nurse escort is required and

what grade of nurse is acceptable and/or if the patient can be accompanied by a

porter or HCA. This may take place in consultation with the physician.5.1.2 The porters will be informed if a wheel chair is required or if assistance with

pushing a bed is required.5.1.3 All major OT cases require the patient to be transferred on their bed.5.1.4 If procedures / diagnostic tests are planned for the patient, an informed consent must

be obtained by the physician and be present in the patient's chart.5.1.5 The patient will be identified using two identifiers before the transfer takes place.5.1.6 Patient privacy and dignity will be maintained at all times.5.1.7 The escort will stay with the patient the whole time the patient is away from the

ward with the exception of OT and Endoscopy Unit and is responsible for thesafety and well being of the patient during this time.

5.1.8 If the patient's condition requires an RN to escort the patient to Radiology, they willstay with the patient throughout the procedure and escort the patient back to theirward/unit (Attachment #1.).

5.1.9 The level of equipment for patient monitoring and maintenance will be decidedupon through a full assessment of patient acuity.

5.1.10 The escorting nurse will ensure all equipment taken on the transfer is functional.The escort nurse is responsible for the return of all equipment used in

transfers to their home unit.5.1.11 During all transfers:

5.1.11.1Side rails must be elevated on bed/stretcher. 5.1.11.2 Infusion pumps must be secured and functioning correctly

5.1.12 All patients are transported feet first with the escorting nurse at the head of the bed.5.1.13 All patients who require monitoring equipment will have the monitor in plain view

of the escorting nurse at all times with alarm appropriately set and turnedon.

5.2 Escorting transfers to Wards from the Emergency Department.5.2.1 An RN escort is required in all cases of transfer to the ward. The Emergency

Department is responsible for arranging the transfer and for providing theescorting nurse.

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5.2.2 The Emergency Department will use transfer documentation in their assessmentform. All medical and nursing notes and charts will be transferred withthe patient.

5.3 Escorting transfers to and from the Operating Theater.5.3.1 All patients being transferred to / from OT will be accompanied by an RN.5.3.2 Prior to transfer to OT the ward nurse will ensure the OT checklist is completed.5.3.3 The OT will call units regarding patients scheduled for surgery and verify if the

patient is ready for collection.5.3.4 The ward nurse will give a comprehensive handover to the OT nurse.5.3.5 When a Recovery Room patient meets the discharge criteria the patient will be

assessed by the Anesthetist and the discharge documentation will be signed.5.3.6 The Recovery Room nurse will telephone the ward/area and inform the RN

responsible for the patients care that the patient is ready to be transferredand the condition of the patient.

5.3.8 Following surgery the Recovery Room nurse will give a comprehensive handover tothe escort nurse from the patients home unit.

5.3.9 The receiving unit can refuse a patient from Operating theater/recovery Room ifthe patient is deemed unstable or if further clarification of the physicians orders is

required. The receiving ward/unit and Recovery Room nurse are required toinform their respective supervisor of their unit if a patient transfer is refused withdetails and reason for refusal.

5.4 Pediatric Patients5.4.1 Pediatric patients are to be transferred to OT and between other departments by a

RN and Porter. Family should be encouraged to accompany all pediatrictransfers.

5.4.2 Transfer from the Recovery Room to wards/units will be completed by 2 RN's. AnRN and the Team Leader or Charge Nurse [if available] must review the

patient in Recovery Room to assess if the patient is ready to return to theSurgical Unit/In- patient Ward prior to transfer.

6. REFERENCES

6.1HAAD Policies and Procedures

7. RELATED DOCUMENTS

7.1Nurses Notes7.2 Recovery Room Record

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Attachment # 1

Criteria for Determining Level of Nursing Escort.

An RN assesses each patient to determine the need for and level of nurse escort. The following isa guide only. If there is any doubt over the patients status or likelihood of deterioration then anRN is preferred than the Health Care Assistant

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.1. HEALTH CARE ASSISTANT

1.1 Stable adult patients requiring less than 4L/min of oxygen1.2 OT adult transfers (prior to surgery)

2. REGISTERED NURSES2.1 The following situations require a Registered Nurse escort:

2.1.1 All children2.1.2 Patients with a recent history of cardiac chest pain2.1.3 Patients with Intravenous therapy / blood transfusion in progress.2.1.4 Patients requiring oxygen at greater than 4 L/min and / or frequent

suctioning.2.1.5 Patients with unstable vital signs.2.1.6 Patients receiving sedation during the planned procedure.2.1.7 Patients suffering from epilepsy who have had a seizure within the past

24hrs.2.1.8 Unstable patients: any patient who is likely to have a change in

condition.

2.1.9 Post-operative OT transfers.

3. DOCTOR3.1 A medical escort is required for all unstable, critically ill patients.

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Ppg Gdch Nur 39 Escorting Patient