Pulse Ox

Specialties Private Duty

Published

This might be a really dumb question, but I am wondering if I can use my regular pocket pulse ox on pedi patients?

Or will I need to buy a special pediatric one? Right now my patients are 10mo, and 5 y/o.

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Most nursing supervisors will advise you not to use a pulse ox at all unless it is required per the Plan of Care. In that case, the equipment will be available in the home. You can get yourself in trouble for charting information not required by the POC, when you use non-provided equipment.

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Most nursing supervisors will advise you not to use a pulse ox at all unless it is required per the Plan of Care. In that case, the equipment will be available in the home. You can get yourself in trouble for charting information not required by the POC, when you use non-provided equipment.

Both of my patients require O2 sats as part of the daily vitals, and one patient is new and we are waiting on the DME to send a pulse ox to the home. My other patient has one in the home but it's a POS and sometimes works and sometimes doesn't.

Seemed like getting my own would be a lot easier.

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Ask your nursing supervisor to provide you with working equipment.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

The OTC pulse oximiters are neither designed for not accurate for pediatrics. You have no way to calibrate or maintain a personal pulse ox and if your personal device misreads and you act in those numbers harm may happen. If the patient has a POS then contact DME. Get your clinical manager to intervene.

The only personal equipment you should be using is your stethoscope. There was a DME issue that was inadequately explained to the case manager. Disciplinary write ups abound as some nurses rather than reporting equipment issues were using personal equipment. The patient had an incident. It was not a good scenario. The nurses'a personal device misread the child and the nurse based her assessment on erroneous data. A week long inpatient stay that should not have happened.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

It's not easier. It circumvents the system. And can cause patient harm as most devices are not designed for pediatric use.

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Okay, I'll talk to my manager. Thank you. I'm new to PDN so this is all good to know.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

If there is an order on the plan of care, insurance/DME must supply appropriate equipment & supplies for the patient in PDN.

You should NEVER bring your own supplies or purchase for the patient.

If a BP is required DME must supply a cuff. If pulse ox continuous or spot check it MUST be provided and operational by DME.

If equipment not operational or available contact DME listed on the 485. Contact your clinical manager for support.

The only item to be provided by a nurse is a stethoscope.

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Just so you know, I have been given conflicting instructions by different nursing supervisors regarding the use of my personal pulse oximeter, however, the majority of the time they will advise against it for the reasons given above.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Just so you know, I have been given conflicting instructions by different nursing supervisors regarding the use of my personal pulse oximeter, however, the majority of the time they will advise against it for the reasons given above.

My main employer is now issuing verbal or written warnings for using personal equipment. Reasons: collecting data not required on the 485, not reporting issues with equipment or DME provider, using uncalibrated personal equipment not designed for multi patient use. One nurse was doing spot checks on all patients and recording data such as 85% on room air for a non-respiratory child only needing transport monitoring on a bus to school in case of seizure or needing emergency medication. Out of range value with no supervisor notification, no physician notification, no indication for assessment, no standing orders. Big flag for an audit.

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The only item to be provided by a nurse is a stethoscope.

i also see many nurses(myself included) use our own thermometers.

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Ask your nursing supervisor to provide you with working equipment.

I do wonder if the agency's equipment misreads data what would happen?

My other agency supplies thermometers and electronic bp cuffs.

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