the HEAT wave

Specialties Geriatric

Published

Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

We,as lots of other parts of the country, are in a horrible heat wave...record breaking temps here.

How are all y'all handling it? We do NOT have central air. There are air conditioners at the end of the nursing units and in some of the residents rooms, but for the most part the building is HOT HOT HOT. I had to send three people out rescue the past 3 days from heat. We go around reminding people to drink lots of juice or water and to take more breaks than normal but it doesn't do much good.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I live in Texas where scorching heat is to be expected every summer. Therefore, most of the homes, cars, and places of employment in this area have some type of central air conditioning. However, it is hotter than average around here. The average temp at this time of year is 95 degrees, yet it has reached 108 degrees during the month of July. There were 15 days during July where the temps exceeded 100 degrees.

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Specializes in acute care and geriatric.

I can sympathize I hope this helps

1. Remind your CNA's to monitor for dry diapers and sudden changes in behaviors,

2. keep your eyes our for signs of dehydration.

3.Suppliment po fluids with Subcutaneous infusions of Normal Saline,

4. keep shades drawn in the heat of the day and if you dont need them, close the lights

5.reeval the use of diuretics if necessary

reminds yourself that this is the hot spell you were praying for in the middle of last winter!!!

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

No...I meant the STAFF..I know how to keep residents hydrated..although I never have heard of giving normal saline subcutaneously and don't think I'd ever give it that way. Seems to me that method went out with the civil war.

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Specializes in acute care and geriatric.
I never have heard of giving normal saline subcutaneously and don't think I'd ever give it that way. Seems to me that method went out with the civil war.

Then your missing out- its a great, more comfortable and safe method to give supplemental fluids- no IV or infiltrates to worry about, any nurse can start it and if the patient pulls it out- its no big deal to reinsert. You will never run out of good veins etc.,We've been using them for years on our patients who can't seem to drink enough and it makes all the difference!!

For those who need it at night we hook up 500 or 1000ml of Norm Saline with a butterfly needle and tape it down- the patients don't even feel it but wake up well hydrated and are more alert and cooperative

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Specializes in acute care and geriatric.
No...I meant the STAFF..

If your (generally healthy) staff is dehdrating then they aren't taking your advice to drink and rest seriously! Can you have a doctor or dietician give an inservice?

Just a tip but we used to shower off in the staff shower for just 5 minutes in middle of a shift in order to cool down. I know it means leaving the residents but if you can keep it to 5 minutes during your break time, than its no different than a cigarette break or a bathroom break. The shower made all the difference!!

It might also help to remind staff to reduce caffeine intake and salty foods etc, although I am sure that they are professional enough to know that already.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
Then your missing out- its a great, more comfortable and safe method to give supplemental fluids- no IV or infiltrates to worry about, any nurse can start it and if the patient pulls it out- its no big deal to reinsert. You will never run out of good veins etc.,We've been using them for years on our patients who can't seem to drink enough and it makes all the difference!!

For those who need it at night we hook up 500 or 1000ml of Norm Saline with a butterfly needle and tape it down- the patients don't even feel it but wake up well hydrated and are more alert and cooperative

In this state, in this country, we don't use subcut. IV's...never have seen it done and would never do it.

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Specializes in Too many to list.

When I worked in Maine, no air conditioning. Same with most facilities in Rhode Island. Staff usually walk around with wet hand towels around their necks to keep from passing out. It's not a great look. It's not a professional look, but we are talking survival here in these places with no ac, and no ventilation to speak of. The CNA's, God love them, are doing very physical work moving some of these residents in LTC in and out of bed, and this heat is really tough on them. Most wear shorts to work. I used to take a thermos and fill it with Coffee Koolata or frozed lemonade. Anything to stay cool!!!

Now, I just worked at a place in Connecticut where the ac was not able to keep up with the 100+ temps. Their solution? They bought mini plastic fans to hang around the neck of each staff member. Hey, at least they tried...

About that SQ IV fluid idea. Before I left one facility in Maine, the house physician was considering using this very method to safely hydrate our patients. I've only done it on cats, myself, after my vet taught me how. Very easy, really.

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Specializes in acute care and geriatric.
In this state, in this country, we don't use subcut.

IV's...never have seen it done and would never do it.

I don't think it is against the law!!! But if you are not comfortable with it than that is your choice of course- I thought you were looking for ideas and solutions that you might not have tried before- and I was just explaining a successful technique that works great with the geriatric population (I know because I've used it many times effectively and comfortably and never once had trouble).

I'm not trying to persuade you to do something you don't feel comfortable doing.

Good Luck solving your problem I hope the heat spell breaks and you get relief that way!

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Specializes in acute care and geriatric.

now, i just worked at a place in connecticut where the ac was not able to keep up with the 100+ temps. their solution? they bought mini plastic fans to hang around the neck of each staff member. hey, at least they tried...

[color=darkorchid]youve got to be kidding_ did it interfere with pt care? i can just imagine it getting stuck in someones hair !

about that sq iv fluid idea. before i left one facility in maine, the house physician was considering using this very method to safely hydrate our patients. i've only done it on cats, myself, after my vet taught me how. very easy, really.

thats one smart doctor-

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3.Suppliment po fluids with Subcutaneous infusions of Normal Saline,

When you talk about infusion, you mean actually continous drip? At what rate? Which part of the body? What kind of needle - not an IV catheter surely?

Interested to know. thanks.

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Specializes in Too many to list.
When you talk about infusion, you mean actually continous drip? At what rate? Which part of the body? What kind of needle - not an IV catheter surely?

Interested to know. thanks.

I think a butterfly needle was mentioned. For my cat it is was something very small, and it was IV drip.

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