Patient and I going on a trip! What to pack?

FlyingScot, RN · Oct 16, 2012

I've absolutely no experience in this situation so take my thoughts with a grain of salt. I think it might be more beneficial for you to ship in advance a large box of needed supplies to the hotel where you will be staying. It might be a little spendy but certainly better than trying to drag all the stuff on the plane. I would contact the concierge and ask if they can help you with this.

Flare, ASN, BSN · Oct 16, 2012

It would probably be beneficial and more cost effective to try and determine which supplies you'll need and quantity and try to arrange them to be delivered from a local supplier in the NYC area directly to the hotel where you'll be staying. The benefit there (aside from not having to lug a ton of supplies) is that you'll have a go to contact if you run out or need something else. You can probably also make arrangements to rent some of the heavier equipment that won't be necessary until you actually get to NY. Also beneficial to get a copy of her chart made incase she has to visit an east coast hospital.

The idea of using the hotel concierge is a good one, but they may not know best when it comes to matters of aquiring supplies and health care. It may be a good idea to have your group home administration reach out to some sort of case management local to your hotel in NYC - the hospitals may be willing to lend a hand with that -especially if you let them know it's for a make-a-wish kid.

Jessie_321 · Oct 16, 2012

My friend has had a similar situation where she travelled from the UK to Florida. The young gentleman that she was travelling with had a skin condition where he had the majority of his body covered in bandages, major skin breakdown, feeding tube, and had a wheelchair. With the extra dressings etc, they contacted the flight company to arrange for extra luggage allowance. They also took a pillow, and placed that underneath a buttox, and alternated that every two hours, just to try to prevent any breakdown, by at least some form of pressure relief.

Also what I would say is to expect security to take a while. I know that this was an issue for my friend, and they may ask you several questions.

Hope this helps

X

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Oct 16, 2012

My advice.. Have lots of patience and have a blast with your kiddo!

liveyourlife747 · Oct 17, 2012

I haven't been on a trip through my home care agency personally, but we have had two kids get a make a wish trip. One went with one of our nurses and the other went with family. Make a wish should be able to make sure you have all the equipment and supplies you would need to care for her on the trip. I would think the air line would be accommodating to your clients needs and would allow you to bring what you need for her on the trip. I would take what you normally would take on a normal doctor visit plus a few extras of briefs, caths, and wound supplies. An extra gtube and bolus syringe would be a good idea too. Anything else "emergency" (more so respiratory/cardiac) wise should be available on the plane or at your destination. I hope that helps settle your fears a bit!

Also-- remember patience! And try not to work more than the time your company/or make a wish is paying you per day, you will get caregiver fatigue quicker than you can imagine. You should have set work times and family should have their time with the child as well WITHOUT a nurse, just like they would at home. HTH and good luck!

Good Morning, Gil · Oct 17, 2012

Sounds like a very unique opportunity! Never done anything remotely similar, so no advice here, just enjoy! That will be such a special time for her, wonderful memories for both she and you.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Oct 17, 2012

Hi there-
At my amazing group home for peds one of the teenage pts has picked me to go with her for her Make-A-Wish trip to New York. At first, i'm thinking "Yipeee!" Now i'm thinking "YIKES!!" i'm looking for any advice on this trip from anyone.
Here's some background: we live on the west coast, so the flight will easily be 6.5 hours. Pt is immobile, has long history of skin breakdown (had very large stage 4 pressure ulcer on coccyx when we recieved her, needed wound vac and Clinitron bed to resolve, history of MRSA) - she's currently getting up 4 hours a day- can sometimes tolerate longer, but coccyx is inclined to turn red quickly, needs monitored closely. Also has no feeling waist down. She uses straight cathing via Mitrofanoff, wears briefs. Has G-tube but can eat too, currently gets 12 hr night feed.
i'm sure i can't bring her dresser of supplies on this trip, but it's probably going to be an enormous suitcase :) We'll be gone maybe a week, and an aide and her family member is coming too.
Has anyone traveled so far with a patient? Any advice on being so far from home? Emergency advice? Thank you in advance!!!

I agree ship most of the supplies prior to the flight. Are you flying commercial or private like Angel Air? Find out local suppliers of her usual supplies for emergencies. I would scan her most recent medical records/med/labs/H&P etc onto a flash drive for easy access.

I would ask make a wish people for they have done this before.

Most of all HAVE FUN!!!!