Auditory
Given a patient is often covering their ears, how would you adjust your communication?
Speak more softly
Given the patient is constantly running their hands over their clothing, objects and surfaces, this patient may benefit from what object to meet their tactile sensory needs?
Fidget
A patient is often seen rocking themselves back and forth, when you are working with them in a room, what type of chair could you prompt them to sit in to support their sensory needs?
The rocking chair or spinning chair
A patient is biting and chewing on their clothing and blankets, what are some strategies you could recommend?
1. Carbonated beverage
2. Ice chips
3. Flavorful foods
4. Crunchy snacks
A patient is covering their face with their blanket, avoiding leaving their room, and squinting frequently. What can you do to adapt their environment?
Close the blinds and dim the lights
A patient often listens to music on their phone with the speaker held right up to their ear, does this indicate that the patients needs more or less auditory stimulation?
More auditory stimulation
A patient is pulling away and demonstrating behaviors each time you try to take vitals, what are two strategies you can implement to meet their sensory needs during cares?
1. Ask permission/inform patient exactly where you are going to touch them.
2. May consider less frequent vital checks (as appropriate).
A patient "won't sit still," what are some different activities you could recommend to meet their sensory needs?
Walking around the unit, body weight exercises, dance, and yoga.
Essential oils may be calming or alerting, name an essential oil scent that tends to be relaxing and one that is often alerting.
Relaxing: Eucalyptus or lavender
Alerting: Citrus
A patient enjoys watching TV in the day room and spending time with peers. They often have the lights on full brightness in their personal room and the door open to see people passing by. What could you recommend as a privilege?
Starry light projector
A patient often displays behaviors or becomes withdrawn when multiple conversations simultaneously occur, what is a strategy you could use to improve engagement?
1:1 communication
Limiting cross-talk (multiple conversations at once)
Meet in a quiet room rather than day room
A patient is demonstrating signs of forearm self-harming behavior, what strategies might they benefit from to help manage sensory needs?
Weighted lap blanket
Layering blankets (to provide more weight)
Deep pressure squeezes
A patient becomes agitated each time you move their body or facilitate a position change, what two strategies could be implemented to help mitigate this?
1. Have the patient move themselves.
2. Slow down any position changes that patient cannot perform themselves.
A patient only prefers to eat the same bland foods and drink water every day, what strategies could you utilize when providing care to this patient?
Wear unscented lotion
Minimize perfume use
Avoid giving patient a roommate (as able)
Consider avoiding alcohol swabs (as able)
What are some strategies that could be used when providing cares for patients with light sensitivity?
1. Providing sunglasses
2. Limit number of people in the room during cares (as appropriate)
3. Dim lights/close blinds