Comatose patient can't close his eyes and has no curtain for sun protection

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Specializes in retired from healthcare.

One time the charge nurse asked me to turn this patient who was comatose and could not close his eyes.

He had no curtain and the sun was glaring in. I told her, "I did not turn him because the sun is in his eyes...."

She agreed with me.

Later on in another nursing home, I found a stroke patient who could not move and who was postitioned with

the sun burning her eyes out. One charge nurse had already asked us not to leave her like this and no one could remember.

Everyone who does patient care should try facing into the sun with your eyes shut when it's glaring in the window and see how many seconds you can stay there. This is memorable and instensely painful.

The last time I found a patient stuck this way I wrote a note to the DoN and alerted everyone to it.

I said I would call DHS if I found her this way again. From then on, they always turned her back to the sun.

Even with the curtain shut, it still can hurt their eyes.

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Specializes in Pediatrics. Emergency. Agency..

I agree it's not comfortable. Can you not tape his eyes?

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Specializes in home health, dialysis, others.

Why not get a sleep mask? Or fold a washcloth and place it over the pt's eyes? We still need to turn the patients!

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We have blinds that block out all the light. I've also turned a bed to face another direction before turning (not always possible due to oxygen, drips, etc, but it's sometimes an option).

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Isn't the patient that is unable to blink and does not close his eyes at risk for keratinitis?

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Tape an eye guard to each eye and cover the top of the eye guard with gauze. either that or get two styrofoam cups, cut them to size and tape them on.

just gettin' creative...

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Specializes in ICU.
Why not get a sleep mask? Or fold a washcloth and place it over the pt's eyes? We still need to turn the patients!

Why would you put a mask or washcloth over someone's eyes if their eyes are open?

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Specializes in LTC.

The patient still needs to be turned. Turning from back to side away from the window is okay, but they still need more rotation. Why not place a wash cloth dry or moist over the patients eyes to protect them. I honestly don't see why this patient can't be turned to look out the window.

If the eyes are kept moist and healthy through eye drops and frequent eye care it shouldn't be that huge of an issue. I hang outside in the sun all the time without special eye protection. I maybe able to blink my eyes to keep them moistened, but there are other options.

Threatening to call DHS for this is a bit over the top. What this patient needs is a good careplan that addresses a good turning schedule with eye protection.

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very interesting. Which direction is the window facing? the sun cannot be glaring in all the time. What about timing the turning to allow for his back or side to face the window during the sunny part of the day?

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Specializes in MED SURG.

this is just scary, Hello what would you want done if it were you. You need to turn your pt and you can close the eyes yourself and tape them or something. I fill bad for the guy even without the light shinning in his eyes. Try holding your eyes open for a min and it is very painfull. This should be a part of basic care that you give to your pt.

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I've hung blankets over windows to block the sun. And I'd think occasionally taping the eyes closed would be a good idea.

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Could you possibly put sunglasses on him?

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