Swaddling

[Amino]

A colleague and I got into an argument after I’ve had to clean up her mess from improper trach care on our patient. Patient is an infant and is a fat fat.

I use an arm only swaddle while performing trach care. PT could easily wiggle out if desired but it helps calm them.

colleague is threatening to turn me in for illegal restraining. What are your thoughts? I plan on asking for a doctors order for it anyways but I’m just curious on others thoughts.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

LOL Every NICU nurse in the country would be charged with illegal restraining. We swaddle them for NG tube placement, IV starts in the scalp, retaping ETT tubes. In fact, a majority of the babies that are in cribs/bassinets are swaddled for sleep.

Every baby store in the country sells a baby straight jacket called a Sleep Sack https://www.halosleep.com/halo-sleepsack-swaddle-100-cotton-baby-blue-bunnies/

[LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM]

I'm sorry, the infant is a "fat fat?" Are you actually making fun of a critically ill child?

[AdobeRN]

We swaddled in Pediatrics - Try starting on IV on a screaming, arms swinging, leg kicking 5 year old - aint happening. We either would use a special board with velcro straps to mummy wrap or if they were small enough just a bath blanket wrapped tightly around the kid.

[Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN]

1 hour ago, NICU Guy said:

LOL Every NICU nurse in the country would be charged with illegal restraining. We swaddle them for NG tube placement, IV starts in the scalp, retaping ETT tubes. In fact, a majority of the babies that are in cribs/bassinets are swaddled for sleep.

Every baby store in the country sells a baby straight jacket called a Sleep Sack https://www.halosleep.com/halo-sleepsack-swaddle-100-cotton-baby-blue-bunnies/

This 100%. How exactly does your coworker suggest you prevent the kid from accidentally decannulating himself while you perform trach care?

[Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN]

Also, in addition to making the nurse's job easier/safer, it's actually kinder and more reassuring to the baby to swaddle while you're doing something unpleasant to them. I always swaddle everything except the limb I'm working on for IV starts, for example. The difference it makes in their comfort level, compared to people who let them flail and scream through the procedure, is immeasurable.

[Amino]

On 10/23/2019 at 9:31 AM, LibraSunCNM said:

I'm sorry, the infant is a "fat fat?" Are you actually making fun of a critically ill child?

Not making fun of. It’s an endearing term both I and the parents call them. Also, who doesn’t love a fat little baby?

[Amino]

On 10/23/2019 at 11:04 AM, Coffee Nurse said:

This 100%. How exactly does your coworker suggest you prevent the kid from accidentally decannulating himself while you perform trach care?

Coworker places the child in a jumper to perform very subpar and not quality care for the trach. She then will move them midway through. It’s usually off center and half way out when I come in for work. I attempted to show her my technique as I’ve been with the patient since birth. It resulted in a huge argument and threats.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

What a *** rocket. If you approached her in a helpful way, it was completely appropriate to demonstrate a different technique. As for the reporting..."go ahead" would be my response.

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

Laughing my *** off. I work in NICU and if anyone demanded an order to restrain a baby, they would have been laughed off the unit.

[JadedCPN, BSN, RN]

This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard of in all my years of pediatric nursing. This is a procedural hold, no restraint order is needed.

[Jory, MSN, APRN, CNM]

On 10/23/2019 at 10:31 AM, LibraSunCNM said:

I'm sorry, the infant is a "fat fat?" Are you actually making fun of a critically ill child?

She's not making fun and why do the words matter? Fat isn't a bad word. It is...what it is.

Large? Obese? Michelin baby? She's trying to paint a visual that the baby is one of those babies that is unusually large to the point it probably has very little neck...those babies are hard to perform trach care on.