RT-br sounds assessment

[eurith]

Hello,

I have a question about the routine practice of RTs in NICU. Here, somewhere over the rainbow in the midwest, our RTs insist on checking breath sounds and tube placement every 2 hours on all intubated babes. I might have a babe with PPHN, and very sensitive to any stimulation, and the RT is in there every tube hours, assessing br. sounds and unwrapping the tube to check for placement. How is this in the interest of minimal stimulation protocols? I would appreciate any input on the standards of practice elsewhere, and any thoughts as to what I should do about this. Thanks.

[littleneoRN]

Unwrapping the tube? What do you mean by that?

[dawngloves, BSN, RN]

Our RTs never listen to a baby unless they are asked, usually during an intubation or if assisting an RN with re taping or suctioning.The RN checks placement hourly by looking at the tube. If you have to un tape a tube to check placement, you are not very familiar with your ETTs and their placement markers. If I felt my baby was unstable, no one would touch them without my say so.

[NeoNurseTX, RN]

Seriously ..unwrapping to check for placement?? That's just an extubation waiting to happen.

[NICU_babyRN, BSN, RN]

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

what? what????

The idea of unwrapping or untaping an ET tube every two hours, or q4 or q6, or ANYTHING other then PRN is preposterous.

ET tubes have markings for a reason! And as far as assessing breath sounds, the RT can do it but not every two hours. Also ridiculous.

RTs listen to intubated patients once or twice per shift and/or if a significant change occurs.

untaping??? I'm still baffled.:angryfire

[littleneoRN]

Hence my question about what the OP meant about unwrapping... I was really hoping this meant something very different where the OP worked.... AHHHH!!!