• Jay Haynes, Kelly Bowers, Richard Young, Trudy Sanders, and Karen E Schultz.
• Jay Haynes is the senior medical director for health and wellness, JPS Health Network, John Peter Smith Hospital, Department of Family Medicine, and an adjunct assistant professor, Department of Medical Education, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas.Kelly Bowers is a biostatistician, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of North Texas Health Science Center.Richard Young is director of research and associate program director, family medicine residency program, JPS Health Network, and a clinical associate professor of family medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.Trudy Sanders is the vice president of patient care services, JPS Health Network.Karen E. Schultz is a research assistant and epidemiologist in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas. jhaynes@jpshealth.org.
• Crit Care Nurse. 2015 Dec 1; 35 (6): 38-45.

BackgroundManaging "spaghetti syndrome," the tangle of therapeutic cables, tubes, and cords at patients' bedsides, can be challenging.ObjectivesTo assess nurses' perceptions of the effectiveness of a novel banding device in management of spaghetti syndrome.MethodsA simple color-coded elastomeric banding strap with ribbed flaps was attached to bed rails of adult critical care patients to help organize therapeutic cables, tubes, wires, and cords. Nurses were surveyed before and after use of the bands and after the nursing shift to assess the burden of spaghetti syndrome and the effectiveness of using the bands.ResultsUse of the bands decreased the time spent untangling cords, reduced the frequency of contact of tubing with the floor, and diminished disruptions in care.ConclusionsUse of a simple flexible latex-free elastomeric band may help organize therapeutic tubing at patients' bedsides and may promote improvements in nursing care.©2015 American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.

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