How to do one-person turn for quadriplegic / trach/vent Pt?

Kitiger, RN · Sep 17, 2019

The vent circuit can be attached to the person by using a flexible elastic belt that goes around the person's chest with a Velcro attachment to hold the vent. (See image). A cheap one can be made by attaching Velcro to the person's shirt using a clip, and then using the Velcro to wrap around the circuit.

There is also a device to hold the vent circuit to the trach ties, preventing it from disconnecting at the trach.

It is easier to turn the person away from you to position the diapers/slings, etc.. (That way, you can better see what you're doing to position things.)

Keep the vent circuit clipped to his chest, and it should stay comfortable. Flex the hip/knee that is closest to you, then roll his hip away from you. Pay attention to how far under the hip the diaper, etc., needs to go in order for it to be right when you roll him back onto his back. Getting the sheets/pants/diapers/hoyer slings underneath the person and positioned correctly will come with time.

You can do this!

https://www.google.com/search?q=vent+circuit+holder&rlz=1C1NDCM_enUS718US718&sxsrf=ACYBGNT867cIREjjeknwL26OyRf-kOcNIA:1568685165286&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=arYq8FssmG6CBM%3A%2C0hlWFzuICPe2cM%2C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kRjh9dkWH2zBbRs0NYcPhUjpmK6hg&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi276nQ39bkAhWJna0KHa8CDdwQ9QEwA3oECAkQCQ#imgrc=arYq8FssmG6CBM:

Kitiger, RN · Sep 17, 2019

The vent circuit can be attached to the person by using a flexible elastic belt that goes around the person's chest with a Velcro attachment to hold the vent. (See image). A cheap one can be made by attaching Velcro to the person's shirt using a clip, and then using the Velcro to wrap around the circuit.

There is also a device to hold the vent circuit to the trach ties, preventing it from disconnecting at the trach.

It is easier to turn the person away from you to position the diapers/slings, etc.. Keep the vent circuit clipped to his chest, and it should stay comfortable. Pay attention to how far under the hip the diaper, etc., needs to go in order for it to be right when you roll him back onto his back. Getting the sheets/pants/diapers/hoyer slings underneath the person and positioned correctly will come with time.

You can do this!

https://www.blowoutmedical.com/pediatric-vent-circuit-anti-disconnect-device-905d.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=base&utm_campaign=products&feed_special=google&gclid=CjwKCAjw5fzrBRASEiwAD2OSV1bN-9b500DonS5Csz1e1Riv6CuhG8P7Y8KI2PffJS0daPZjwyYnyRoCFK8QAvD_BwE

allthesmallthings · Sep 18, 2019

Thank you ?

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Sep 20, 2019

I have nothing re the vent but turning a person alone is not easy but can be done. You definitely need a sheet that goes across the middle of the bed (we call them a draw sheet) Roll the sheet up from the outside toward the patiemt and use the sheet to help give you leverege to roll th e person away from you.

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Oct 13, 2019

I would recommend asking your management for a physio inservice on the best ways to move patients. Physio did that for my nursing school class, and it has saved me so much pain. I'm thirty years in to nursing without a back injury, and not in shape by any measurement, but I'm told I'm a good lifter.

The main point is to use your body weight as a counter balance to the turn or lift. So you've got a sheet under them, you don't use your arms to pull, you hold with your arms, and lean back to pull with your body weight. Moving someone up in the bed, you lift up vertically, then move your whole body towards the head of the bed, not trying to move your arms alone.

Very hard to explain verbally...like I said, physio will know, and if you don't get an inservice, it would be worth paying for a session privately, IMO.

Kitiger, RN · Jan 9, 2021

On 9/20/2019 at 9:40 AM, NutmeggeRN said:

I have nothing re the vent but turning a person alone is not easy but can be done. You definitely need a sheet that goes across the middle of the bed (we call them a draw sheet) Roll the sheet up from the outside toward the patient and use the sheet to help give you leverage to roll the person away from you.

In one home, I use a slightly different kind of draw sheet. It's a piece of satin-like fabric (slippery) that is large enough to fold once and cover the entire bottom sheet. The waterproof bed pad goes over this. This gives me two layers of slippery underneath the patient. The layers slide over each other. I can push the patient away from me easily, then smooth the fabric out. (Really, the fabric is so thin, even wrinkled, it will not crease the patient's skin.)

Once the patient is moved away from me, I can turn them onto their side, facing me. Conversely, I can pull the patient toward me and turn them away from me. It's also easier to slide them up in bed, especially if I first crank up the feet.

This is really helpful with a heavy patient on a foam mattress.