Communication for the vented patient

andrea.nz · May 7, 2004

We use alphabet boards, most of the time this seems to work but when it doesnt find someone who is good at reading lips:chuckle

I am looking for information to communicate with our vented patients. many of the patients become angery when they are unable to effectivly tell us there needs. I find the picture diagram that we use is inaffective, does anyone have any thoughts or any webs sites that you know of that will be able to help us ? et: picture tools.
thanks!
Jamie

suzanne4, RN · May 7, 2004

If your patient is just intubated, and doesn't have other deficits.....a small white board is ideal....................as long as they have at least one hand free to write with..............most of the facilites where I have worked, either provided them or the family members brought them in. Even if they are lying flat, it is much easier to write on the board with a fat pen, then trying to write on a piece of paper with a skinny pencil. :)

gwenith, BSN, RN · May 7, 2004

I have worked with so many vented patients that I have started to read lips getting so good I will be deaf for six months before I notice.

With lip reading though you have to be with the patient a bit and the more you do it the better you become - it is as if you have to "tune in" to how that person shapes the words.

Of course some words are easier to read than others - swear words and words like "Rack off" come out very clearly.

MarkHammerschmidt · May 8, 2004

A trick you can try - if the patient can handle it saturation/ventilation wise, you can suction her airway and oropharynx, then ambu-bag her with the ETT cuff deflated. Briefly. With positive pressure from the bag, she'll be able to speak pretty clearly. Even better if she can already speak with a cigar in her mouth...