Patients who de-sat

[SoundofMusic]

Learned a lesson yesterday. Little older lady came in, w/ report having said that she would desat off her O2. I checked her in, and as it was change of shift, just passed the info on to the next nurse and proceeded to wrap up my shift which was ending crazily w/ this new admit and another pt returning from dialysis. Family was with her at the bedside. About 10 minutes into the next shift, family is yelling that she's "on the floor and blue" and we all went rushing in.

We put on a rebreather and got her sats back up in no time, but it sure was a lesson learned.

Any other lessons w/ these types of patients that anyone can pass on? She was a classic pneumonia patient and we don't get these that often.

My lesson learned -- instruct family and patient NOT to remove 02 for any reason!! But at transition times, as this little lady just getting to the unit and anxious, and wanting to get up to the BR, etc, family was just not thinking and just got her up and walked her to the BR without asking for help.

I have had other experience w/ these types of patients -- i feel they're very scary. They can desat so fast and next thing you know, they're close to d**TH as you walk into their room!

YIKES.

[leslie :-D]

other than a bsc, the o2 needs to be continuous, and exertion kept to a precious minimum.

the dr needs to know that she bottomed out, so he can write appropriate orders...

and none of this, 'br privileges as tolerated'.

leslie