Trick or Trachs
This equipment should always be available at the head of the bed for a patient with a tracheostomy.
What are emergency tracheostomy supplies?
This is often the earliest vital sign change seen in a trauma patient developing hemorrhagic shock.
What is tachycardia?
This is how often chest tube output should be documented.
What is every 4 hours?
This device provides the greatest level of cervical spine immobilization.
What is a Halo Brace?
This assessment tool is used to measure a head trauma patient's level of consciousness.
What is the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)?
During routine trach care, this component is removed with a clean hand and replaced using sterile technique.
What is the inner cannula?
In trauma patients, this laboratory value may be elevated due to tissue injury, inflammation, stress response, or hypoperfusion.
What is lactate?
A chest tube drainage system should always be kept in this position relative to the patient's chest.
What is below the level of the chest?
Pin-site assessment and care are critical with this orthopedic device.
What is an external fixator?
This should be performed before and after collar care
What is a neuro check?
To prevent hypoxia and airway trauma, suctioning should be limited to this many passes and no more than this many seconds per pass.
What are 3 passes and 10-15 seconds?
This classic referred pain finding may indicate blood irritating the diaphragm following a splenic injury.
What is Kehr's Sign?
While assessing a chest tube drainage system ordered to -20cm H2O wall suction, you notice the bellows are not expanded. The nurse should do this intervention.
What is increase the wall suction until the bellows are fully expanded to the delta?
A 4-person team performs a log roll on a patient with C-spine precautions. This person is responsible for maintaining spinal alignment and directing the turn.
Who is the RN?
When performing a neuro check, the nurse should assess level of consciousness, pupils, motor function, and this fourth element.
What is sensation?
A trach patient suddenly becomes restless, tachypneic, and difficult to oxygenate. RT is on the way. Besides calling for help and increasing oxygen, you should perform this intervention immediately.
What is suctioning the tracheostomy?
In trauma patients, these two complications can both cause elevated lactate, tachycardia, and hypotension.
What are sepsis and hemorrhagic shock?
A chest tube's water-seal chamber has continuous bubbling. Before notifying the provider, these three troubleshooting steps should be performed.
What is checking for loose connections, cracks in the atrium, and performing a dressing change?
You apply and remove this brace using the log-roll technique to get in and out of the brace without twisting the spine.
What is TLSO?
A patient recovering from a head trauma reports headaches, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. The nurse should teach that these are often part of this.
What is expected post-concussion symptoms?
A tracheostomy is found completely dislodged during bedside care. This is the first step the RN should perform.
What is assess the patient?
A patient has increasing heart rate, decreasing urine output, cool extremities, and normal blood pressure. This phase of shock is most likely occurring.
What is compensated shock?
A patient's chest tube suddenly drains 225mL in a four-hour period. This combination of actions should occur next.
What is notify the provider, assess the patient, and document output.
Aside from spinal alignment, this is one of the most important nursing concerns when caring for patients with braces and collars.
What is skin integrity?
A TBI patient's neuro checks have been stable all shift. The patient now has a worsening headache, difficult to arouse, and a sluggish pupil. The nurse should suspect this.
What is increased intercranial pressure?