Tricks of the trade....

[prodigy]

Hello everyone I am relatively new here so a bit about me. I am an EMT in the ER and I am starting nursing school next month. I was wondering if any of you more seasoned nurses could share some tricks of the trade so to speak that maybe useful to some of us. To start I will share a few too that I have learned while working in the ER.

To get rings off without cutting them: Materials are lotion, a larger paper clip, and a medium rubber band. First straighten the rubber band out. Next lube the finger with the ring on it real well with the lotion. Next take one end of the paper clip and align it with one edge of the rubber band pulling the rubber band tight and hold the rubber band and the paperclip tight together. The paper clip acts only as your guid to get the rubber band between the ring and finger. The paper clip and rubber band should look like a mini bow and arrow, but the edge of the rubber band only has to meet the end of the paper clip on one end.

With the pt's hand palm up together slide the paper clip and rubber band (taut) in between the ring and pts finger. Remove the paper clip so just the rubber band is between the pt's finger and ring. There should be loops of the rubber band on each side of the ring. Grab each side of the loops together and twist them tight to the ring once there is no slack in the rubber band and it is tight to the ring twist in a circular motion around the pt's finger. Be perpared to add lotion. Once the ring starts going around the finger twist off the finger.

If a pt has deformities of the fingers such as arthritis or had gained an extreme amout of weight the this might not work, but I can't tell you how many times I was a hero when I did this to pts that haven't taken their ring off in 20 years and didn't want it cut.

One more small one that most of you probably know some sort of variation to.

When helping a strong smelling pt such as a gi bleed or pilonidal cyst this will help you from suffering through the foul smell. Materials two isolation masks and one tube of tooth paste. take one mask lay it down with the inside facing up. Take the small pt size toothpaste tubes and squeeze out all the tooth paste onto the inside of the mask. Take your second mask and lay it down on top of that with the inside facing up. Then pick them both up and put them both on. Now you have two masks coupled with a nice minty scent.

Hope this helps someone.

[labcat01, BSN, RN]

those are pretty good! I'll have to think if I have anything to contribute :)

[misty1998]

If you don't have toothpaste around, we use vicks vapor rub! Its small enough to keep in your pocket and all you have to do is rub a little under your nose and no more stinky smell :) We use it ALOT in OB :)