Morally What would you do?

You are the office manager. It would not be out of line to hold a NON-judgmental meeting to discuss this issue. Perhaps the bell should ring in other areas also.

WEll, this is a tough one. I am not sure of the regulations in canada, but here in the US, if that pt fell, or was injured while you were assisting her, you would be in trouble. But, morally, I agree, I would feel obligated to help her, too.

I am not for sure but I do not think you need a license to walk someone to the bathroom-this is not totally a nursing function. Why do you have the call light ring in your office if you are not suppose to respond to it-or are you suppose to keep an eye on the nurse and how long it takes her to respond to the light ?

give me a break.....what do you suppose would have happened to this poor pt. if you weren't there? my goodness, the nurse should recognize the fall risk of the pt., and she should be grateful that you were there. she's just probably pissed because you (inadvertently) made her look bad. well that's too darned bad. furthermore, i think it's marvelous that you were so eager to help out. often i get aggravated because too many turn their heads the other way.

leslie

Thanks guys! I have a moral obligation to help. That is why I work with the elderly. I responded a couple of times for other issues because the nurse was no where to be found.

Techinally I am supposed to call her right away but half the time the portable isn't on anyway.

I have another question if anyone knows, do you have to be regulated to give O2? This is not for me its just a general question.

oxygen is considered a drug, if this is what you are asking...

Yes what kind of training would you have to have? Could a practical nurse give it?

Yes what kind of training would you have to have? Could a practical nurse give it?

Technically, nobody can give O2 w/o a physician order; however, most facilities have protocols or standing orders that state under which circumstances O2 may be given immediately.

Oxygen can be dangerous to some elderly patients. It can cause some COPDer's to stop breathing. Let a nurse administer it.

we have a standing order for 2L/min prn, dyspnea.

leslie

I never said I was going to even think of giving it, at least until I graduate from school and with an order. I was wondering what circumstances would warrent it with a portable O2 tank. Can someone give it at their discretion, like what Oxygen Sat rate would warrent it in someone who was just having a little trouble brething??

I never said I was going to even think of giving it, at least until I graduate from school and with an order. I was wondering what circumstances would warrent it with a portable O2 tank. Can someone give it at their discretion, like what Oxygen Sat rate would warrent it in someone who was just having a little trouble brething??

Yeah... I'd be a bit circumspect about giving O2. If I were a nurse at that facility, I'd have given you my thanks for helping the pt. to the BR... and also apologized for being tardy. But I would probably sit you down and have a talk about scope of practice if you started putting O2 on pts.

What about %sat? We don't want our pts below 90%. But whenEVER anyone's condition is changing (they are dyspneic now, for instance, even though 4 hours ago they were comfortable...) it's critical to figure out what's going on. That's why the nurse should be at the pt's side doing some critical assessment. You could theoretically get your patient more comfortable with O2 while the underlying problem gets worse.

Hey, what about a bedside commode your your little lady patient? (Prevent falls, but also figure out why she's having urgent need for the bathroom.)

So, there you are for what it's worth.