Sanity is madness put to good use. - George Santayana
JCAHO Hates Nurses and Coke
15Aug2008 Author: Mother Jones, RN
Stress in the workplace has been plaguing nurses for a long time. This ad is from 1963. Apparently work got overwhelming for at least one nurse. Her nursing cap fell off while she was pulling her hair out at the nurses station. She’ll feel better after she guzzles down her bottle of Coke. Sugar and caffeine always makes my day more manageable while I deal with those unyielding hours. I think hospitals should put a Coke machine in the middle of every nurses station. There’s nothing like a few bottles of Coke to help kick start your shift. Unfortunately, JCAHO made up a stupid rule about eating and drinking at the nurses station. It’s a big no-no. Idiots! I must have caffeine. This is non negotiable. No one had better get between me and my Coke. NO ONE!
I guess JCAHO doesn’t care about unyielding hours and unmanageable units. Maybe that’s why they make up all of their stupid rules in the first place.
10 Responses to “JCAHO Hates Nurses and Coke”
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Disclaimer
There has been a lot of chatter in the blogosphere about medical bloggers and HIPPA regulations so let me make this very clear: I write composite stories about many different people that I've cared for over the years.
tammy swofford
August 15th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Yes, all of the restrictive measures in the workplace to turn nurses into anorexic zombies bother me. Naturally, many a nurses lounge is right next to a bathroom, so you can also enjoy hearing the toilet flush while you eat your sandwich. We also enjoy microwave ovens that are twenty years old and off brand coffee from South America that has fillers such as burnt corn husks. It is hot and odorless.
Tammy
jody
August 15th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Yeah I agree. We run around most times like Idiots..and they have a problem with us eating and drinking on the run LOL.
Do you think they know that as soon as they leave the building the cups come Out to play again?
Mother Jones, RN
August 15th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Hi Jody: I’m not sure if the realize that we all thumb our noses at them when they walk out the door. I think JCAHO people are oblivious to the real world. They live in their own little bubble.
Amrita
August 16th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Pretty cool site.
Can you please increase the font size. it will be easier to read
Jean-Luc Picard
August 16th, 2008 at 11:56 am
We all need refreshment, don’t we?
Karin, RN
August 16th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
In the hospitals where I work, we are allowed to have coffee or water . . . in the nurse’s station as long as the container is covered. Yes, even Coke if it’s in a bottle that can be capped. Of course, alcohol is not allowed. Wanna move in my neck of the woods?
Cheri, MS, RN, CPHQ
August 16th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
FYI, this is not a Joint Commission requiremnt it is an OSHA requirement.
Mike
August 18th, 2008 at 11:03 am
I suspect that your RN in the photo was drinking Coke because back then from what I understand Coke was made with small amounts of cocaine in it. I am not sure if that is true or not, but several of my parents friends and my parents have said it was a big deal way back when people would get hooked on the stuff. Coke with Lime, Coke with Lemon, diet Coke, ……..Coke with Coke, mmmmmmmmmmmm. I wonder how that would affect the PressGaney scores.
Healthcare Today
August 18th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
…
Things go better with Coke, especially when JCAHO is coming to town. Just don’t let them see you eating or drinking at the nurses station….
denice
August 20th, 2008 at 5:30 am
It is an OSHA regulation. Nearly two years ago, we had an surprise OSHA inspection. I was newly to my position as Clinical Leader (nurse manager). I was not on the unit when they showed up there. I have no idea where I was. But, as the OSHA inspector was standing there a doctor came in set down his unopened diet coke and unpeeled banana on the counter. The inspector quickly took a picture and sited us. The reasoning being specimens could also be placed there leading to the possibility of cross contamination.
The hospital was fined for an action of a non employee who chose to break the rules designed for their safety.
Yeah. I know