Printable/Downloadalbe PDF version of Policy and Procedure
Hospital Tubing and
Line Organization System (LOS)
Policy and
Procedure
Purpose of
policy: To provide a safe environment for
patients, staff, and visitors in settings where there is
an abundance of various types of medical tubing and
lines. To prevent tubing from becoming impinged,
tangled, and contaminated. To create a set of standard
nursing practices when connecting or disconnecting
tubing and catheters to or from a patient; there by
preventing possible tubing misconnections and medical
errors.
Tubing or catheter
types can be, but are not limited to, the following:
 Peripheral
Intravenous Tubing
Central Venous
Catheters
Umbilical
Arterial Catheter Tubing (UAC)
Umbilical
Venous Catheter (UVC)
Percutaneous
Intravenous catheter (PIC)
Peritoneal
Dialysis Catheters
Tracheostomy
Cuff Inflation Tubes
Automatic
Blood Pressure Cuff Inflations Tubes
Bladder
(Foley) Catheters
Nasogastric
Tubes
Oral Gastric
Feeding Tubes
Percutaneous
Feeding Tubes
In-Line
Suction (Ballard)
Blood
Administration Tubing
Ventriculostomy Tubing
Epidural
Catheters
Arterial Lines
Intra Aortic
Balloon Pump (IABP)
Chest Tube
Nasal Canula
Line and cords can be,
but are not limited to, the following:
Nurse Call
Light
Equipment
Extension Cords
Bed Extension
Controls
Pulse Oximetry
Cords
Procedure
Attachment of LOS:
Attach a LOS (Line Organization
System) to the side of the bedrail where lines and tubing
travel over to the patient. If lines and tubing are
present on both sides of the bed, place a LOS on both the
left and right bed rail. To attach the LOS, clean the
surface of the bedrail and separate the bottom
longitudinal slit and slid device onto edge of bedrail.
Instructions for Use of
LOS:
Next, align all tubing and lines
through the vertical slots along the top part of the
device. Check for passive movement of each line. If
restriction is felt do not use in device. If additional
lines are present than grooves in LOS, an additional LOS
may be used on the same bedrail.
LOS, may be transferred to a
wheelchair arm or IV pole. Follow bedrail instructions for
attachment, use, and removal of LOS.
Inform non-clinical staff, patients,
and their families that they must get help from clinical
staff whenever there is a real or perceived need to
connect or disconnect tubing or move the LOS.
To clean LOS while in use with single patient, soap and water maybe be used or germicidal and bleach solutions
To clean the Beata Clasp ® while in use with single patient, soap and water, germicidal or bleach solutions may be used.
Removal of LOS:
To remove the Beata Clasp®, first remove all lines between vertical grooves. Then firmly grasp the device and pull away from the bedrail. A Beata Clasp®is intended for single patient use only. The Beata Clasp® may be cleaned and sent home with patient, or recycled #7 TES (can be collected and returend to manufacturer), or disposed of in the trash.
Procedure for Tubing and
Lines used with LOS:
Before attaching tubing to a
patient, label the tubing near the connection point with
the name of any fluid infusing and note the route of fluid
by indication: IV, epidural, pressure line, feeding tube
or specified other on the label.
Before connecting any new device or
infusion to a medical tubing, always trace the tube or
catheter from the patient to the point of origin.
Recheck connections and trace all
patient tubes and catheters to their source upon a
patient’s arrival to a new unit or department.
Turn on the light in a darkened room
before connecting or reconnecting tubes or devices.
If a line disconnects in an area
without a nurse, the clinical team member on the
department where the patient is currently located, should
notify the nursing unit of the disconnect. Nursing will
determine need for immediate reconnect and provide nursing
support for the reconnect if deemed necessary.
Never use a standard luer syringe
for oral medications or enteric feedings.
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