Taking care of confused patients in subacute setting

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How can you deal with a confused patient taking off nasal cannula in subacute setting where you have 15-16 patients. I keep going in the room every now and then to keep check on patient and checking O2 sats. What nursing interventions could you do?

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Tape the cannula to their nose and place them in four point restraints with a posey vest. See if you can sedate them as well.

Just joking. Are they dropping their O2 sats significantly when taking it off? With that many patients I'd find it near impossible to keep a constant eye on the patient, unless you can enlist the help of aides to frequently check on and replace the cannula as needed? I always find confused patients to be the most challenging. Also, why is this patient confused?

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In LTC and subcute many patients have dementia. I told the aide to keep watch on the patient and put the cannula back if it is not in place.Is it okay to tape the cannula to patient's nose? Yes his O2 sat was dropping in 85-86 so I was constantly checking on him.

I am a new nurse so I may sound stupid but wont sedation cause respiratory distress if patient sats are low?

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Specializes in med-surg.

I am a new nurse so I may sound stupid but wont sedation cause respiratory distress if patient sats are low?

The OP stated just joking... I'm not sure how LTC works but when we have confused patients like that we'll either put them in front of the nurses station so more staff can watch them or try to get a sitter for the patient.

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