OK, here is my question. I opened a case last weekend, a young man with a trach, a plastic Shiley type, placed for sleep apnea. So he says, I got a very poor history, and on the weekend, it is hard to speak with anyone who knows anything about his case.
The HMO sent twill "tapes" to tie his trach with. Now I have a critical care background, and I remember the days when that was the only choice anyone had, but why would that cheap HMO send something so difficult for even many nurses to do properly? I put in a request for the foam/velcro type of ties.
I have not had many trach's in home care, and none in my own caseload, so I am wondering, are we suypposed to tecah the pt to change the ties themselves? I have one pt who I am in e-mail contact with, she was a nursing school instructor, and she has had a trach for quite some time. She agreed with me that this would be nuts to teach a pt. I also felt that no one should be alone when an airway is changed, heck, I am sure someone else is nearby when I change trach ties in the ICU for heavens sake. Is anyone out there teaching pt's to do this for themselevs? If not, how often do you change the ties? My other pt/rn says q 2 weeks or prn.
Any insight?
And where the heck is everyone?? No posts in this forum for a while, wake up HH nurses!!!