Tips and Tricks that work!

[momcat107]

I am a hospice home care aide and I love my work. I have many tips and tricks that I have picked up throughout the years. I would love to share what I can,and would love other folks to share theirs.:balloons: Many times a tumor will emit a rather nasty smell,if smells bother you put a small amount of vicks vapor rub under each nostril,viola! you smell vicks and noones the wiser.Vicks vapor rub is also great to combat nail fungus.apply to affected nail once daily. More to come....have to go to work now.....

[RNfaster]

With regard to odors, I have found peppermint oil under the nose useful.

For pulling patients up in bed, I like the Trendelenburg position (tilt head down, feet up). I have been reading about special sliding sheets that reduce friction, but have not ever seen them used. The only lifting devices that I've ever used are a slide board, a Hoyer lift (only when training, unfortunately), and a gait belt. I would like to learn more about lifting techniques. I use my legs and back, something that one of my coworkers recently found odd. He said I should use my arms and keep my spine and legs static... I tried that, but the next day my neck and shoulder were hurting. I think that it might have worked well for me if I had stronger arms. (Working on strengthening them.)

I also take Benadryl about an hour before I leave the hospital when I am keyed up and have a shift the next night. By the time I get home it will then only take about an hour to kick in.

[Ms Kylee]

Any tips on how to stop gagging when you get that wonderful noseful of C-Diff would be appreciated... I don't have pockets in my scrubs, so I can't carry Vick's or peppermint oil with me. My charge RN thought yesterday I was going to faint and/or puke on her. I told her the smell just got my nose, not to my stomach. I don't think gagging is very professional...

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

Shaving cream works well to get dried BM off of skin.

When you are giving a bed bath, put the pt's bottle of lotion in the bath basin of warm water. By the time you are done giving the bath, the lotion will be warmed up. Your pts will enjoy having post bath lotion application with warm lotion.

[shellsincanada]

I don't have pockets in my scrubs, so I can't carry Vick's or peppermint oil with me. ...

OMG I can't imagine working without pockets. I wear my regular clothes at work and the few items I have without pockets don't get worn at work. What do you do with pens and other things you would normally have to drag around with you?

[Ms Kylee]

Leave all of my stuff on the med cart. My required color scrubs are hunter green, which are very difficult to find, and all of the pants and tops I have found I have been very lucky to find. I hate the color, but it's not my choice. Also, I don't really want to buy more scrubs because in 6 months, I'm eligible to take the PCT (Patient Care Technician) class, and after passing the test and class, I get to wear purple.

[AprilRNhere]

Lotion works wonders for getting BM off as well.

I'm glad to hear the Vicks trick. BM doesnt' bother me much..but vomit does.

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

Lotion works wonders for getting BM off as well.I'm glad to hear the Vicks trick. BM doesnt' bother me much..but vomit does.

We keep peppermint oil in the pyxis on all the units. Put a couple of drops on a 2x2 and place it on top of the TV, or somewhere else in the room not too close to the patient. No way I could put vicks under my nose. ouwwhhh that makes me nauseous thinking about it.

[EDValerieRN, ASN, RN]

Squirt an amp of bicarb over stinky feet (1/2 amp each foot), and it neutralizes the smell. This is how we wash our homeless people's feet, works every time.

[momcat107]

Thanks for the replies! If your patient is actively dying and gets what can only be called death breath a drop or two of peppermint oil behind each ear and maybe a drop or two on the front of the hospital gown,will make things nicer for the family. Stubborn earwax problems?CVS has come out with a peroxide gel that works wonders. My husband swears by it...put a q tip full in each ear wait 15-20 min and the wax falls right out. If your pt is incontinent and you need to clear up some diaper rash,bag balm works wonders.If your patient complains of a lot of stomach gas,first look at how they are drinking. If they are using a straw they are swallowing a lot of air. if a straw is the only option shorten the straw.....

[Roy Fokker, BSN, RN]

Shaving cream works well to get dried BM off of skin.

A paramedic buddy of mine taught me this trick. I never believed him until he showed it to me! Now I whole heartedly recommend this technique :)

When you are giving a bed bath, put the pt's bottle of lotion in the bath basin of warm water. By the time you are done giving the bath, the lotion will be warmed up. Your pts will enjoy having post bath lotion application with warm lotion.

Thanks for the tip!

OMG I can't imagine working without pockets.

I'd be lost without the pockets in my scrubs!!

cheers,

[nightmare, RN]

For pulling patients up in bed, I like the Trendelenburg position (tilt head down, feet up). I have been reading about special sliding sheets that reduce friction, but have not ever seen them used. The only lifting devices that I've ever used are a slide board, a Hoyer lift (only when training, unfortunately), and a gait belt.

If you don't have slide sheets( I don't know what we'd do without ours!)Put an ordinary bed sheet folded in half cross ways across the bed and use it to reposition your patient.This works very well with lighter people ,not so good with heavys! You are quite right using your leg power to lift,the GM muscles are the most powerful in the body!

We find over here that using hoists is good but pulling the hoists and moving them causes a lot of upper back and shoulder strain.Sometimes you just can't win!!

Forgot to mention,if you use the sheet ,when you go to reposition your patient hold the sheet as close to the patients body as you can get,it makes moving so much easier.