When I did my job shadow last semester. I watched a Student RT suction the airway of a vent patient. The patient was a drug overdose and was completely out. He didn't react at all, when his airway was suctioned. Before, during and after the suctioning, she talked to the patient and explained everything that was going on. Watching her do that, left me wondering about when I should and shouldn't talk to patients.
Recently we've been learning some actual patient care procedures and the topic of talking, and explaining things to patients, has come up. We're being taught that you should always talk to your patients and explain things to them. You never know when they might be listening. Sometimes they're listening, even when you're sure they can't be.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
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I'm really bad about this. It's a weakness, but I often find myself not talking at all to my vented patients unless they're eyes-open awake. Talking your patients through everything is definitely a good idea but I have some sort of mental block about it...
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