Trust introduces ‘nurse in charge’ armbands

Senior nurses at a big London trust will be given armbands, similar to those worn by football captains, to help patients identify them as the nurse in charge of the ward.

Bright red armbands with the words ‘nurse in charge’ printed in white have already been trialled on the surgical wards at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

Patients and visitors said they found it much easier to identify the nurse in charge and knew who to ask for help with referrals and getting medication.

Sophie Royce, a patient at St Thomas’, said: ‘My relatives coming here to visit me have also found it helpful and reassuring to be able to tell who is the senior nurse on the ward.’

Following the success of the trial the trust plans to introduce the armbands in all clinical areas.

Chief nurse and director of patient experience Dame Eileen Sills said: ‘The armbands are like those worn by football team captains so that they can be easily identified. Our Nurse in Charge armbands show who is the most senior person responsible for the nursing team on a ward.’

Armbands were favoured over badges and bibs on grounds of infection control, cost effectiveness and comfort for nurses.