How familiar are you with vents/trachs?

caliotter3 · May 9, 2009

I didn't have any experience at all and then I just started working on vent cases in home health. Same with trachs. On my first case, they had the primary nurse show me the ropes while orienting me to the case. After that, I've just been working on cases and learning things on my own. I got a vent manual and read it. Still have it to refer to. Lately I went to a class that was required by an employer, but didn't really learn much. You should not pass up jobs because the word 'vent' or 'trach' is in the job description. Instead, approach the employer and inquire about training and orientation. The right employer will get a supervisor or another nurse to show you what you need to know. And after that, you just gain experience like with anything else.

cardiacmadeline, RN · May 9, 2009

I work on a cardiovascular intermediate care unit. We maybe get a couple vents a year. We get trachs a little more often, my guess would be maybe 5-10 a year. We get enough trachs that most of us are pretty comfortable with them, I actually don't mind them at all, other then the fact the patient can't talk to you! As far as the vents go, I don't mind them either. We really don't do a lot with the vents, RT checks on the patient every 2 hours and if you have any questions regarding the vent, RT will help you out. If you don't have a lot of experience with vents or trachs, it can sound scary, but with more experience you will get more comfortable taking care of these patients.

Reno1978, BSN, RN · May 9, 2009

What sort of jobs are you looking at that are requiring experience with ventilators and trachs? Outside the ICU, I can't imagine too many positions that would require much experience with them...

caliotter3 · May 9, 2009

Lots of people live at home with permanent vents and trachs so there is a need for nurses who can work with these patients in home health.

kcochrane · May 9, 2009

I work in LTC on a respiratory unit and most of our patients have trachs. We only have one vent in our facility which the RT is responsible for. That might be an option for you if you want to get some experience. At least in our facility, even "seasoned" nurses get orientation with trachs.

changeofpaceRN · May 9, 2009

What sort of jobs are you looking at that are requiring experience with ventilators and trachs? Outside the ICU, I can't imagine too many positions that would require much experience with them...

It was actually for a variety of home health positions. I did inquire about training and they said they could send me out on 1 case (the other agency didn't even want to train me but they had no prob sending me out if I wanted). I decided against these jobs for now and found another. I was just asking for future reference because it seems to be so popular these days.

marilynmom, LPN, NP · May 9, 2009

I am pretty familiar and comfortable with vents and trachs.....once you work with them, they are not hard! Don't be scared :)

I think you need more than just 1 case with someone showing you the ropes though, but really vents (especially home vents) are not difficult to troubleshoot and usually the families are VERY experienced with home vents/trachs.....I've never been above asking a family member some questions.

SunnyAndrsn · May 9, 2009

This is where I've been getting my experience as well. I took a CEU class specifically geared towards trach/vent. My home health pt. has a trach and bipap. This might be a good route to look at. I had no experience prior to working with this client and was scared out of my mind. Good training and orientation are the keys.

I didn't have any experience at all and then I just started working on vent cases in home health. Same with trachs. On my first case, they had the primary nurse show me the ropes while orienting me to the case. After that, I've just been working on cases and learning things on my own. I got a vent manual and read it. Still have it to refer to. Lately I went to a class that was required by an employer, but didn't really learn much. You should not pass up jobs because the word 'vent' or 'trach' is in the job description. Instead, approach the employer and inquire about training and orientation. The right employer will get a supervisor or another nurse to show you what you need to know. And after that, you just gain experience like with anything else.

CHAVNY · May 10, 2009

I got a vent manual and read it. Still have it to refer to....

Hi, Any suggestions on what manual and where to get it. Thanks

caliotter3 · May 10, 2009

Hi, Any suggestions on what manual and where to get it. Thanks

I got the manual for the 102 series vent (forget the name of the manufacturer). I was given a copy of it when I attended an inservice class on vents given by the vent DME company to nurses at my hh agency at the time. Since this is the vent encountered in the home much of the time, I considered myself lucky to have obtained it. Try talking to your DME company.

mama_d, BSN, RN · May 10, 2009

It's been a LONG time since I had to take care of a vent patient, but we do get trachs on our floor...not too often, but at least once a month or so. It does seem like not many of the other nurses have much experience with them, especially when it comes to suctioning properly, so I'm one of the first to jump in and say "If you're not comfortable, why don't you watch me do it and then I'll watch you do it next time."

I worked for a while at a pediatric LTAC and on a large rehab floor, which is where I got most of my expericence w/trachs. A lot of our nurses have never worked on any other floor beyond getting floated, so that explains the difference.