OET Reading Part B practice test

Email: morning handover

To: All nursing staff, Ward 4B

From: Rachel Fenwick, Nurse Unit Manager

Subject: Morning handover

Hi everyone,

From Monday 10 November, morning handover will start at 07:00 rather than 07:15. This follows our review of the 08:00 medication round, which found that time-critical medicines such as insulin and Parkinson's medications were regularly given late because handover was running past 07:45. Night staff will still finish at 07:30, and the roster office has confirmed that no shifts will need to be extended. Handover will remain at the bedside using the current ISBAR sheet. We'll run the new time for eight weeks, and I'd welcome your comments at the January ward meeting before we decide whether to keep it.

Thanks,

Rachel

Policy 6.3: Blood and blood products – patient identification

Policy 6.3 Blood and blood products – Patient identification

Positive patient identification must be completed at the bedside immediately before each unit is commenced. Ask the patient to state their full name and date of birth; do not ask closed questions such as 'Are you Mr Lee?'. Check these details, together with the medical record number, against the patient's identification band, the compatibility label on the unit and the prescription. Where the electronic bedside scanning system is in use, a single registered nurse or midwife may complete the check; otherwise, two staff members must complete it independently. If the patient is unable to state their details, for example because they are unconscious, rely on the identification band. Checks completed at the nurses' station are not valid.

Memo: recall of VP-300 infusion pumps

MEMO – Biomedical Engineering

Re: Recall of Vireo VP-300 volumetric infusion pumps

The manufacturer has recalled the VP-300 after reports that the downstream occlusion alarm may fail to sound at flow rates below 5 mL/hour. No other model is affected. With immediate effect, do not start any new infusion on a VP-300. Infusions already running at 5 mL/hour or more may continue until the current bag is finished, provided the volume infused is checked against the pump display every hour. Any infusion running below 5 mL/hour must be transferred to an alternative pump now. Once a VP-300 is no longer in use, attach a red 'Do not use' tag and leave it in the ward equipment room for collection. Replacement pumps are being delivered to wards today.

Guideline 4.7: verbal and telephone medication orders

4.7 Verbal and telephone medication orders

Verbal orders should be accepted only in an emergency, or when the prescriber cannot attend in person and a delay would compromise care. They are not to be used for convenience. The nurse receiving the order must write it down and read it back to the prescriber, including the patient's name, medicine, dose, route and frequency, before it is entered on the medication chart. Where possible, a second nurse should also listen to the order, particularly for high-risk medicines such as anticoagulants and insulin. The order must be recorded as a 'verbal order', with the prescriber's name and the time it was received, and countersigned by the prescriber within 24 hours.

Notice: hand hygiene audit results

Hand Hygiene Audit – Quarter 3 Results

Thank you to everyone on the Surgical Unit for your efforts this quarter. Overall compliance reached 86%, above the national benchmark of 80% for the third quarter in a row. However, the results are not even across the five moments. Compliance after touching a patient was 93%, but before touching a patient it fell to 72%, and before an aseptic procedure to 75%. Missed opportunities before patient contact were most common when staff helped patients to reposition or mobilise, or took a quick set of observations between other tasks. Please remember that hand hygiene is needed before every contact with a patient, not only before aseptic procedures. The next audit will be carried out by observers from another unit.

Bladder scanner user manual: cleaning the transducer

Section 9: Cleaning the transducer

Clean the transducer after every patient. First remove all ultrasound gel with a soft, dry tissue; disinfectants are less effective if gel remains on the surface. Then wipe the transducer and the first 30 cm of cable with a detergent wipe, followed by a disinfectant wipe from the approved list in Appendix C. Allow the surface to remain wet for the contact time stated on the wipe packaging. Do not immerse the transducer or allow fluid to enter the cable connection, as this may damage the internal components and will void the warranty. Alcohol-based wipes must not be used, because repeated use causes the acoustic lens to crack. Inspect the lens for damage before each use.