RN Needs Some Pointers

[Team Player]

Hi Everyone,

I'm an RN starting in the ICU and need some advice, instruction and time saving tricks in keeping my patients clean and comfortable. It sounds dumb but nursing school focuses on meds and procedures alot and cleaning duties not so much. I will be providing one on one care to my patients and would appreciate any advice!

[pca_85]

Hi-I've never worked in ICU, but I hope this helps:make beds one side at a time, carry a roll of disposal bags and extra gloves in your pocket, keep a notepad and many pens handy. Wear the most comfortable shoes you can find....if you ever find out what they are, please let me know....my feet hurt lol. Never leave a room empty handed, there's always something to be thrown out or tidied up. Sorry I'm sounding dumb, I just got done working 18 hours and everypart of my body hurts. Best of luck!

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

I work in a nursing home/rehab. For people on comfort measures I make sure I have lots of lotion, fresh water if they can have it, and a clean mouth. If they're NPO I keep loads of mouth swabs at the bedside. And obviously frequent position changes with lots of pillows. If they're spending tons of time in bed I change the linens at least once every day. Those little disposable pads are good for skin folds if they're sweating a lot. I try not to use too much powder because it gets cakey and gross. I've had bedbound, but otherwise alert residents who insist that you dump tons of powder in every fold, and it ends up clumping up and making pressure areas that end up a red yeasty mess.

As for cleaning, stubborn poo often comes off more easily with lotion.

[deewee]

I like using deoderant in the folds of skin that tend to sweat. I actually learned that from a resident I cared for. Guess what? It works! No more sweat and no more sweaty smell! (Large breasts tend to get rather smelly, the larger the breasts, the worse the sweat/smell.) I use the resident's own deoderant. Also make sure to wipe their eyes with a clean damp cloth if you see "crusties" in the corners.

[missmonkey]

If you don't have much experience doing them, bed baths take forever. Patients have to be cleaned daily, though, so do a partial bath: face, hands, underarms, back and peri care. Team up with another RN to finish faster and that person can also help you change the linen, if you are assigned that task as well.

[Pamela C]

Hi,

check out deptets.fvtc.edu/nursing/, you will be able to get some knowledge from them hopefully

Best of luck

Pam