Please help with Delee suctioning :(

[babyswaddler]

I am new to the transitional care nursery, meaning I am having to attend deliveries and I do not know how to Delee suction. I mostly use the bulb syringe, but if the baby has meconium they like us to Delee suction. Up until now I have had to ask the L& D nurse to Delee suction, because I haven't ever done it yet. I have asked for training and they said you just insert the tube. I have then asked how far? and are we suctioning the lungs or stomach? Because they seem to insert the tube about 10 inches... I am being thrown into this and I am hoping somebody at least on this website can answer my questions?? or at least point me to a website. It seems so different than suctioning adults. I still dont know if I am suctioning the lungs or stomach???? I hate being thrown into this, it is BS and I am waiting for an opening to transfer. We have complained to HR and ethics about us being thrown into areas we are not trained for and we have been told "we have the knowledge".. *****?? seriously ???!!! Well, I guess we covered it in nusring school maybe??? For some that was many years ago!

I so wish we had a nurse educator where I work! I have also had a few of my friends say they will show me at the next delivery, but of course they are busy when the baby is being delivered.

[debstmomy]

Are you NRP certified? I am not sure, but isn't it covered in it?

[RainDreamer, BSN, RN]

We don't routinely delee suction. And when it's necessary, the NNP or neo usually does it.

You're right in asking for someone else to do it if you don't feel comfortable. It's more than "you just insert the tube". What kind of answer is that?! If you don't know what you're doing you could cause some serious harm. And, like I said we don't routinely do it because it's not necessary for most deliveries (even a lot of the high risk ones we go on). Do you have a NICU that goes on your high risk deliveries (meconium, etc)?

It sucks they're not being supportive, but good for you for not putting these babies at risk and endangering your license. Good luck!

[merlee]

Where is your procedure manual? Start there, then find someone you can ask during a quiet moment.

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

I ditto the NRP. But, honestly, we haven't used Delee's in ages. We use regular suction and if we have to tube and suction we use a meconium aspirator on the OET. If you are inserting it orally and go 10 inches I can pretty much guarantee you are suctioning the stomach, there is only a very slim chance you are going to the lungs without using a laryngoscope. Also, if done incorrectly you can throw the kid into having a low HR or secondary apnea.

I'd ask about NRP certification.

[Backtoyou2011]

We follow Nrp also where I work, which means intubating and using a meconium aspirator. That isn't fair they should expect you to know how to do that with no training whatsoever.