pulse probe placement

[kaibigan]

i need your two cents of a coin.

where do u usually place ur pulse probe? is it a practice in ur institution to place the pulse probe on the either the left and right wrists aside from either the left and right foot? do u place the probe where the bp cuff is also placed?

if u have any IPP on this matter, please provide me a copy and let us help my new unit to start a good level III NICU. email me at this addy: [email protected]

"Whatever you seek for your future; whatever you hope for, aim high. Your dreams are the wings of your spirit, as long as you can dream, you can fly." :balloons:

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

Pre ductal...right wrist, post ductal L side. We usually alternate ours Q12 hours to prevent sores/burns from the light. Most of the time they are on the feet. Sometimes it just goes were it picks up best LOL!

It doesn't matter to us if it is on the same limb as the BP cuff, it just doesn't pick up for a bit when the cuff is going. Sometimes that is the only extremity open if we have mulitiple IVs going.

[kaibigan]

i see that we do really do things different from different facilities and countries...anyways, as long as it is good for the babies then i agree to it.

in my previous hospital we do the probe placement every due cares, meaning we do it either every3 or 4 hourly, it's an additional part of the care but that's how our manager likes to do it. we laso cannot place the pulse probe on the same site where the bp cuff is unless like what you have said that is the only place left or available if there's a lot of IVs or contraptions.

thanks a lot bittybabygrower for your immediate response

[JenKatt]

Our unofficial policy is to change probe placement with hands on, which is usually q6. Feet, wrists or hands are fair game. It can go on the same extremity as the BP cuff, just hope you remember that when your sats drop that its because of the cuff. In our bigger kids we'll do probe site changes q12.