Safety

Avoid confusion from color-coded patient wristbands

Ambulatory Safety Monitor, April 28, 2006

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To avoid confusion that could lead to patient safety errors, consider the following tips when using color-coded wristbands to identify patients:

  • Limit the number of colors used
  • Use only primary and secondary colors
  • Emboss or preprint text rather than hand-writing it
  • Remove colored wristbands that patients may be wearing when they first arrive at the facility (e.g., those that show support for cancer research or other causes)
  • Make wristband verification part of the nursing assessment during shift changes



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