Published Jan 18, 2011
Ruthfarmer
153 Posts
I'm new to hospice, and loving it. I have dealt with a lot of phlegm in my time, but last week I came across a patient with really super thick and sticky phelgm like I've never seen before. The patient is a bit obsessed with the phlegm and frequently asked me if it looks like "meat." I assured him it didn't look like meat, just super thick phlegm.
The patient has end stage lung disease, silicosis, asbestotis, lupus, parkinson, and just about every other co-morbidity you can imagine. About the only medication he was not on was Guaifenesin. We got him started on Guaifensin. Encouraged fluids, suggested a humidifier/ humidified O2.
I'd be most appreciative of any other suggestions. The other nurses from my agency say they haven't dealt with phlegm this thick and sticky before.
I went to school later in life to become a nurse. . . . been nursing since I was nine, but without a license. Hospice nurses caring for a loved one inspired me to attend nursing school. I have some experience on cardio-pulmonary floor. Most of my experience has been ER and swingbed. I'm looking to add more interventions to my hospice bag of tricks.