New to Patients on Vents

Nurses New Nurse

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I have been a med-surg RN for close to a year now. I recently moved out of state and have started work with an agency. The agency placed me at a facility that has vented patients on general floors, which I have next to no experience with! At my previous facility vented patients went to the ICU. I am somewhat nervous as to the expectations the new place I am working at will have with me! There was a 2 hour orientation to the place, and I start tomorrow. Any advice or words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated!

I am going to stick to the basics, ABG's, oximetry, oral care, positioning, breath sounds.....

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Stick to the basics like you said. Ask questions at your orientation to vents. And when you need to ask again.

I work with kids on vents in a home setting. It can be intimidating and overwhelming to say the least.

good luck

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Specializes in ED, ICU, lifetime Diabetes Education.

Ask to shadow RT. Take note of vent settings such as FiO2, vent resp., pt resp. (how much they are breathing over/under vent), PEEP Tidal volume, inspiratory pressure, and SpO2.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

I can understand your anxiety about this situation. However, always remember that accepting a patient assignment for which you are not competent is a violation of the nurse practice act in pretty much every state. Your agency should have provided the facility with information about your skills & expertise, but it is up to you not to take an inappropriate assignment.

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Very VERY rarely do vents go out of our ICU and to the floor. And I think its only one unit that they can tx to and ususally someone thats been on a vent a long time. I'm so used to vents now it doesn't seem as scary as they look! Just gotta remember what the numbers mean.

FiO2 is the % of O2 they are getting.

PEEP is the Positive pressure usually 5, 10, or 15.. or none!

AC or SIMV mode (which I confuse still)

Tidal volume

Pressure support.

At my hospital we do inline suctioning and mouth care Q2h. And if you hear rhonchi on auscultation... try suctioning first!

If you ever feel like the vent isn't working right.... disconnect and AMBU bag!

RTs are great at explaining, and I would definitely ask to shadow a nurse with a few vent pts before taking any of your own. Hopefully there are people around to help and answer questions.

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