Suggestions on positioning?

[stargurl2006]

I recently began working as a CNA and I have a few vent patients. My vent patients are my only patients that are bed bound during my shift. I asked my trainer how they position them so that the trach isn't pulled. My trainer told me that they don't move them other than when changing them. I know this is bad for the patients, but I'm scared to move them because of the vents. Any advice??

[yousoldtheworld]

We don't have any vent residents, but we do have a whole wing with trachs who get hooked up to breathing treatments at night, so it's a similar challenge. I do still turn them. Make sure there's some "slack" in the tube before you move them.

It's generally easiest to turn them toward the side where the machines are than away from it. If someone is hard to turn, I might just turn them from their back to that side and then back again.

If it's too hard to completely turn them, I will use rolled up towels and just slightly take the pressure off one side at a time - not a full turn, but it's something.

After you get used to it, it isn't too hard. :)

[jb2u, ASN, RN]

These patients do need to turn at least every two hours. I know there are beds out there that turn patients side to side, but if this patient does not have one of those beds then he/she needs to be turned. It's nothing to be afraid of. Just take your time. Make sure you have some slack. You may want to get help with turning to make sure you do not pop them off the vent, but it is really not that hard. Good luck to you.

[janedoe29]

Thesepatients should DEFINATELY be turned I have been a Cna @ a long term acute /vent hospital for ten yrs, and I agree with the others make sure you have slack and ask for assistance :)

[stargurl2006]

Thanks for the replies! I know I'm just being a nervous newbie :-P

[CNA2day]

I would bet that the person that stated that they do not turn them is not a very good employee, and I would bet that others do turn them. Be a good employee and turn them! :)