Comments on: This poor guy

By: anna

anna — Tue, 25 Jan 2005 12:18:56 +0000

help me please

By: anna

anna — Tue, 25 Jan 2005 12:18:52 +0000

help me please

By: Lorainne

Lorainne — Sun, 11 Apr 2004 04:34:42 +0000

Where can I follow up for more information

By: geena

geena — Wed, 12 Mar 2003 17:21:57 +0000

Change the environment how? For the most stable patients, we’re able to close their doors, but the very purpose of ICU is intense observation. Is the artifact on the monitor caused by the patient shifting around in bed, or because they are having a seizure?
We like to keep them unrestrained (restraint paperwork sucks) but sometimes that isn’t possible. We can’t watch them every second – we have another patient to attend to. And a second is all it takes to do some major damage. Since they’re confused, they try to pull their lines and tubes out. Re-inserting lines and tubes can be traumatic and dangerous.
As for monitors alerting only one nurse, sometimes that nurse is on the other side of the unit for whatever reason, or in the bathroom heaven forbid. Other nurses milling about will be able to respond to the central monitor much more quickly.
Actually, while we’re at it, why don’t we just hook it all up to a buzzer that the nurse wears around her neck? :P :)

By: Iain Sharp

Iain Sharp — Mon, 10 Mar 2003 13:52:16 +0000

Obvious question (you can tell I don’t work in medicine): if its known that CCUs are bad environments for patients mental health, why not try and change the environment instead of strapping them down? OK – people will still be in a painful and confusing situation, but why not have the monitors alert the nurses via an earpiece instead of disturbing everyone on the ward?

By: Sam

Sam — Wed, 26 Feb 2003 19:14:39 +0000

That is priceless. . .certainly one of the top ten reasons to decannulate yourself.