Our hospital also installed carpets in the halls and nursing stations and in at least one room per floor. Food, drinks, and IV fluids have been spilled on them, and patients have been incontinent on their way to the bathroom. The carpets couldn't be adequately cleaned. They made it difficult for our postoperative patients to ambulate in the hallways because the IV poles were hard to push. Assistance was needed for moving stretchers and beds. And people also had allergic reactions to the dirty carpets. Eventually, all carpets, except those at the nurse's station (where food and drink are forbidden), were removed. Since the tile floor has been reinstalled and the carpets removed, the floors can be wiped clean and buffed to a shine.

Sharon Sauer, RN

St. Louis, MO