Taking a trach/vent pt to school

Kitiger, RN · Apr 12, 2016

OK. You need:

Go Bag:

Spare trach and back-up smaller trach

Suction caths and smaller suction caths for back-up trach

Delee suction caths

BVM

Spare vent circuit

D/C power cord to the vent? (Could go in back pack)

Spare vent battery? (Could go in back pack)

Trach pants/applicators/bandage scissors/trach ties in a baggie

HMEs

Non-sterile gloves in a baggie

Spare G-tube with KY and syringe to inflate balloon, obturator? (depends on GT)

Formula (Could go in pack pack)

Medications? (syringes)

Tape

Oxygen wrench and spare o-rings

Suction machine:

D/C power cord

Spare caths

Bottle of water to rinse tubing

Feeding pump: clamps to the wheelchair

Back Pack:

Spare vent battery

Vent battery charger (some batteries charge right off the vent)

Pulse oximeter with D/C power cord

Formula

Oxygen:

In holder on back of wheelchair

Spare tank is secured on the bus by the bus driver

Final check:

Seatbelt and chest restraint on

HME on

Suction machine

Go Bag

Pulse Oximeter

Charting forms

I hope this helps. Going to school is fun. :)

Kitiger, RN · Apr 12, 2016

Nebulizer can go in back pack too. Have a spare hand-held neb set

Kitiger, RN · Apr 12, 2016

Nebulizer can go in back pack too. Have a spare hand-held neb set.

Vent attaches to the wheelchair, usually on the back.

Go Bag and suction machine can hang on the back of the wheelchair, on the handles.

Back pack can be worn, or placed on top of the wheelchair handles, of just carried.

If raining, a blanket can be thrown over the client and wheelchair.

LeChien, BSN, RN · Apr 13, 2016

Oh,and no extra pay to do all of this. Not even 10 cents.

No *extra* pay compared to what? That's your job...

smartnurse1982 · Apr 13, 2016

]No *extra* pay compared to what?[/b] That's your job...

Compared to taking a basic non vent,non feeding tube kid to school.

Same pay hourly but this is high tech.

I might as well save my back and take on a basic case.

Kitiger, RN · Apr 13, 2016

The equipment alone shouldn't stress your back. Let the wheelchair take the weight. The oxygen tank should go on the back of the wheelchair, side-by-side with the vent. Or, the vent can go under the wheelchair. The child's medical supply company should set that up. The rest either hangs from the handles or lies on top of the handles.

If the weight is enough to tip the chair backward, you need those anti-tip wheels on the back of the wheelchair. I have also hung the suction machine from the foot rests. As long as you can easily turn it on and access the tubing, it works.

If you only choose low-tech jobs, are you limiting yourself? I'm thinking in terms of having enough cases. Your available hours will be in proportion to the variety of cases you are willing to take.

Also, In home care, I would advise against having only one active case. What happens if that child ends up in the hospital? You could have a couple of weeks (or more) with very few hours. It's also better for the parents to have more than one nurse. What happens if their one nurse is sick?

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Apr 13, 2016

Compared to taking a basic non vent,non feeding tube kid to school.
Same pay hourly but this is high tech.
I might as well save my back and take on a basic case.

Very few companies pay more for trach vent. There is no longer additional reimbursement for high tech cases in many states like NJ. You take the cases because you have the skills.

Kitiger, RN · Apr 13, 2016

The school also said that the o2 tank cannot be placed under the wheelchair,in the holder and therefore it must be placed upright;we do have the o2 holder with wheels,but that is another thing to carry.
I doubt the bus would allow you to take oxygen in the holder with wheels. The tank must be secured so it can't fly in an accident. I saw a picture once of an EMT who got hit in the head with a flying tank in an ambulance. He died.

HopefulRN7 · Apr 13, 2016

I worked a very similar case for almost a year so I am sensitive to your concerns, however I think you should be more concerned about your pay for working a high tech case vs how many bags you are bringing to school. Approach your agency professionally and ask them whether the state reimburses trach/vent cases at a higher rate. If they do- there is some wiggle room for them to pay the nurses more. Is this a difficult case to staff? If so- the agency should be more apt to offer a bit more per hour as well.

In my state, the school districts receive the reimbursement for the hours at school and typically get a higher rate. The agency should have this info as well.

Good luck to you, I hope it works out. School is fun- it breaks up the monotony of the day, you get to see your patient in a social setting and also receive help/support from Para-Educators in the classroom.

Id also like to add- unless you have years of experience with trach/vent...the skills you will learn on a high tech case are invaluable especially being able to learn them on a 1:1. Don't settle for an "easier" case and close yourself off to the learning opportunity even if it seems like more work. Nursing is a lifelong learning process and it's only wise to continue to embrace it. You will be a much more valuable asset to the profession.

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Apr 13, 2016

Can you try a rolling cart to carry everything else"' It is like a milk crate on wheels and it will carry the o2 and all kinds of other stuff, I got mine at Staples for about $30

caliotter3 · Apr 13, 2016

Some school situations would allow you to store certain items at the classroom area so you would not have to transport a lot of stuff every day. The school where I went required that we keep our "supply" of O2 tanks in a special area at the school. Still needed to take an E tank back and forth but I knew that there was a backup at the school. I've often felt akin to a pack mule every time I had to transport my patient here and there. At least if you work in the home, you can limit these outings to occasional appointments outside of the home. Often, the parents don't even want the nurse tagging along, but then there is no work for that day.