F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 0 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 5 7
A major part of our
MH training centers
on task cards, which
spell out exactly
what steps need to
be completed during
an MH crisis —and
by whom. I created the task cards using text boxes in Microsoft
Word, which makes it easy if I need to change and tailor some-
thing on the card for a different department or facility. I also
turned the task cards into "badge buddies" by printing them out
upside down and putting a hole in the bottom so staff can clip it to
their person and simply flip the card up to read the instructions.
The cards spell out every step of the task at hand. For example,
the task card for our "Dantrolene (Dantrium) Mixer" reads:
1. Find Dantrium in the fourth drawer of the MH cart.
2. A bottle of sterile water is in the fourth drawer.
3. A 60ml syringe and mini-spike dispensing pins are
in the fourth drawer.
4. Mix 60ml of sterile water in each vial of Dantrium.
Mix well!
5. Initial dosage is 2.5mg/kg (a dosing chart is in the binder on
top of the MH cart).
The MH hotline number (800-644-9737) is also prominently
displayed at the bottom of each card.
— Julie Blakeley, BSN, RN, CNOR
ASSIGNED ROLES
Task Cards Organize
Response Efforts
• ACTION ITEMS Effective task cards are
easy to read and simple to understand.
CHRISTUS
Trinity
Mother
Frances
Health
System
