Specialties Private Duty
Published Apr 12, 2016
smartnurse1982
1,775 Posts
This is just too much,but i was wondering what supplies you guys bring with you when you take a vent patient to school.
I would act as the Pdn for the school day.
Suction machine
Back up trachs
BVM
Extra gauze
Extra Gtube
Oxygen tanks.
Extra vent Circuits
Pulse oximeter(needs it continous)
Hme
meds
Enteralite Infinity pump and bags
nebulizer machine
The school also said that the o2 tank cannot be placed under the wheelchair,in the holder and therefore it must be placed upright;we do have the o2 holder with wheels,but that is another thing to carry.
There are no bus aides,just me and the non-medical driver.
In addition to clothes,diapers,gloves,etc and all the things i need to carry.
Sigh.....I am about to quit before i even start from just even thinking about carrying that much.
Oh,and no extra pay to do all of this. Not even 10 cents.
Kitiger, RN
1,834 Posts
OK. You need:
Go Bag:
Spare trach and back-up smaller trach
Suction caths and smaller suction caths for back-up trach
Delee suction caths
Spare vent circuit
D/C power cord to the vent? (Could go in back pack)
Spare vent battery? (Could go in back pack)
Trach pants/applicators/bandage scissors/trach ties in a baggie
HMEs
Non-sterile gloves in a baggie
Spare G-tube with KY and syringe to inflate balloon, obturator? (depends on GT)
Formula (Could go in pack pack)
Medications? (syringes)
Tape
Oxygen wrench and spare o-rings
Suction machine:
D/C power cord
Spare caths
Bottle of water to rinse tubing
Feeding pump: clamps to the wheelchair
Back Pack:
Spare vent battery
Vent battery charger (some batteries charge right off the vent)
Pulse oximeter with D/C power cord
Formula
Oxygen:
In holder on back of wheelchair
Spare tank is secured on the bus by the bus driver
Final check:
Seatbelt and chest restraint on
HME on
Go Bag
Pulse Oximeter
Charting forms
I hope this helps. Going to school is fun. :)
Nebulizer can go in back pack too. Have a spare hand-held neb set
Nebulizer can go in back pack too. Have a spare hand-held neb set.
Vent attaches to the wheelchair, usually on the back.
Go Bag and suction machine can hang on the back of the wheelchair, on the handles.
Back pack can be worn, or placed on top of the wheelchair handles, of just carried.
If raining, a blanket can be thrown over the client and wheelchair.
LeChien, BSN, RN
278 Posts
No *extra* pay compared to what? That's your job...
]No *extra* pay compared to what?[/b] That's your job...
Compared to taking a basic non vent,non feeding tube kid to school.
Same pay hourly but this is high tech.
I might as well save my back and take on a basic case.
The equipment alone shouldn't stress your back. Let the wheelchair take the weight. The oxygen tank should go on the back of the wheelchair, side-by-side with the vent. Or, the vent can go under the wheelchair. The child's medical supply company should set that up. The rest either hangs from the handles or lies on top of the handles.
If the weight is enough to tip the chair backward, you need those anti-tip wheels on the back of the wheelchair. I have also hung the suction machine from the foot rests. As long as you can easily turn it on and access the tubing, it works.
If you only choose low-tech jobs, are you limiting yourself? I'm thinking in terms of having enough cases. Your available hours will be in proportion to the variety of cases you are willing to take.
Also, In home care, I would advise against having only one active case. What happens if that child ends up in the hospital? You could have a couple of weeks (or more) with very few hours. It's also better for the parents to have more than one nurse. What happens if their one nurse is sick?
JustBeachyNurse, LPN
13,952 Posts
Compared to taking a basic non vent,non feeding tube kid to school.Same pay hourly but this is high tech.I might as well save my back and take on a basic case.
Very few companies pay more for trach vent. There is no longer additional reimbursement for high tech cases in many states like NJ. You take the cases because you have the skills.
The school also said that the o2 tank cannot be placed under the wheelchair,in the holder and therefore it must be placed upright;we do have the o2 holder with wheels,but that is another thing to carry.I doubt the bus would allow you to take oxygen in the holder with wheels. The tank must be secured so it can't fly in an accident. I saw a picture once of an EMT who got hit in the head with a flying tank in an ambulance. He died.
I doubt the bus would allow you to take oxygen in the holder with wheels. The tank must be secured so it can't fly in an accident. I saw a picture once of an EMT who got hit in the head with a flying tank in an ambulance. He died.
HopefulRN7
76 Posts
I worked a very similar case for almost a year so I am sensitive to your concerns, however I think you should be more concerned about your pay for working a high tech case vs how many bags you are bringing to school. Approach your agency professionally and ask them whether the state reimburses trach/vent cases at a higher rate. If they do- there is some wiggle room for them to pay the nurses more. Is this a difficult case to staff? If so- the agency should be more apt to offer a bit more per hour as well.
In my state, the school districts receive the reimbursement for the hours at school and typically get a higher rate. The agency should have this info as well.
Good luck to you, I hope it works out. School is fun- it breaks up the monotony of the day, you get to see your patient in a social setting and also receive help/support from Para-Educators in the classroom.
Id also like to add- unless you have years of experience with trach/vent...the skills you will learn on a high tech case are invaluable especially being able to learn them on a 1:1. Don't settle for an "easier" case and close yourself off to the learning opportunity even if it seems like more work. Nursing is a lifelong learning process and it's only wise to continue to embrace it. You will be a much more valuable asset to the profession.
NutmeggeRN, BSN
2 Articles; 4,626 Posts
Can you try a rolling cart to carry everything else"' It is like a milk crate on wheels and it will carry the o2 and all kinds of other stuff, I got mine at Staples for about $30
caliotter3
38,333 Posts
Some school situations would allow you to store certain items at the classroom area so you would not have to transport a lot of stuff every day. The school where I went required that we keep our "supply" of O2 tanks in a special area at the school. Still needed to take an E tank back and forth but I knew that there was a backup at the school. I've often felt akin to a pack mule every time I had to transport my patient here and there. At least if you work in the home, you can limit these outings to occasional appointments outside of the home. Often, the parents don't even want the nurse tagging along, but then there is no work for that day.