Setting up room

[Ardyth Geldart]

Hi,
I could use some help,I will be setting up Shealees room, am in the painting process,I'm going bold and bright(unlike the hospital) but I was wondering how to set up her room.She will have a vent,suction,oxygen sat,usual bedroom furniture, but the nurse will be in the also, is there anything special you all did to make it more comfortable. I don't want it to look like a hospital setting(although I'm sure it will) so any ideas you could give me would be much appreciated.The hospital gives you an idea but I would rather hear from people who have been through it. http://www.twinEnterprises.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif ................. thanks Ardyth

[Lily's Mom]

Hi Ardyth,
The best suggestion I can give you is to set up the suction in a place where you can reach both the crib and the changing table. Â*Right now we have the suction machine in one corner with the crib on one wall and changing table (where I do her trach/gtube care, changing, etc.) on the other wall, both next to the suction. Â*I can't tell you how much energy I wasted in the first 6 months Lily was home running back and forth across the room from the changing table to the crib to suction her. Â*It sounds like a minor problem, but it can drive you nuts. Â*We put a small tv and a comfortable chair in the room for the nurse, but don't get them too comfortable or you'll be waking them up to turn off the alarms! Â*We bought one of those big plastic organizer drawer chests with 5 drawers to keep Lily's supplies in, and that has worked out pretty well. Â*We could really use 2 of them but I've never gotten around to getting another!

As far as it looking like a hospital room, yeah, it kinda does, but I hung a few musical toys from the IV pole and kept as many equipment/supplies as out of sight as possible, and after a while it just seems like a nursery.

Good luck and congratulations!!
http://www.twinEnterprises.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Erica (Lily's Mom)

[Michael's mom]

Ardyth, Here's our set up which works well for us:
1. Use the largest room available, and on the first floor if possible. This is so the emergency squad can get in quickly, more than anything. It also helps to have a room far from your bedroom so that you and your husband have some privacy.
2. Have a cordless phone, emergency backup lights, a fire extinguisher and a bright flourescent light installed. You don't need your phone to be far in an emergency! You need to be able to bag and talk on the phone, so the phone must reach or be cordless.
3. We use a clear vinyl shoe rack (the kind that fits 20 pair of shoes and looks like pockets, not boxes) to keep supplies in. We hung this on the wall. It makes finding and ordering supplies much easier. Additionally, we have a box of drawers made for tools which is clear and we keep medicines, noses, etc. in this. We also bought (some are provided by insurance) two stands (cheap plastic) for the machines and the storage of large things such as tubing, water, etc.
4. Get a surge suppressor extension cord for your equipment, and keep your back up battery nearby for storms.
5. We have the IV pole with the humidifier on the side of the crib where the sides come down and the suction machine on the other side. We do not use a changing table. We change the diapers, trachs, etc. in the crib.
6. Get a cloth bag and hang it on the crib/bed and fill it with suction catheters. You don't want to go searching for one in an emergency. Also, hang two trachs, one the size she wears and another smaller one right at the bedside. Get a ziploc bag and hang an extra obturator nearby to reinsert a trach in an emergency.
7. Get some antibacterial waterless soap - which is clear stuff sold in any drug store, and place it by the crib. In case your hands are dirty, you have to suction or replace a trach quick, you'll have sanitary hands.
8. We have a tv and a vcr and a radio/CD player in the room. This is for the nurse and the child's enjoyment. Have plenty of fun tapes for Shealea and kids music for them to dance to and have fun with and to go to sleep.
9. Get a notebook for the nurses and label it Nurses Communication Log. The nurses like to have a way to leave messages, like what to look out for, what they did or didn't clean, etc.
10. Keep a calendar in the room so you can post appointments and the nurses will be aware of them, too. I also post his current weight, etc. for prescriptions. Post on the calendar "events", such as when/if she needs bagging, extra oxygen, etc. It's MUCH BETTER than my memory!
11. Keep a trash can with trash liners stowed under the one you are using. That way when you empty the trash, there's one handy and you don't have to search through the kitchen.
12. I have posted Emergency Procedures. This is because even the best of nurses freak out during an emergency and forget the most basic of lifesaving procedures. Mine says to turn the machine to BiPAP 4/16, blow on his face, attach ambu bag to oxygen tank, bag 5 X, wait, bag 5 x, wait, call 911, I wanted to put pray, but my husband didn't think it was a good idea.... oh, well. I also have posters of CPR with a trach and sign language.
13. We have a video tape recorder and we made a training tape. Every new nurse watches it. It shows every peice of machinery, how to use it, how to suction, how to change a trach, etc. It's a good idea if you can borrow one and make such a tape.
Good luck, Ardyth! I can't believe this day if FINALLY coming!! Hugs, Sue p.s. sorry so long!

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[cariaad]

Wow, everyone seems like they have covered lots of bases here. My only comment is to anyone who might find themselves coming home ina situation like we did (ie 900 sq ft apartment and no nursing). We bought a microwave cart that has worked wonders for us. Alli's suction machine and a box with cateters and baby washcloths in it as well as a large cup full of saline bullets fit on top. Her compressor for humidity sat on the shelf alongside various other supplies and the smaller bottom shelf held diapers and wipes. And as it was on wheels we could move it from bedroom to livingroom easily. one thing I wanted to add is I would worry about a nurse wearing headphones while on duty! Deb

[Ardyth Geldart]

I would like to thank you all for all the wonderful ideas. I bought Shealee a crib last year when I thought she would be coming home, but 3 weeks ago I gave it away to a family member who was having a baby,and now we plan on buying a mates bed for her, and buy the Fisher Price siderails. I hope this will be ok. I am definitly going to get some of the things you suggested. thanks Ardyth

[p's mom]

I think Kathy's Idea was great about the cabinet with the back out. I think I might try this. I try very hard to hide as much of Parker's stuff as I can. I want it to be his room!!

We just recently converted it to more of a toddler room and made it a "BOB the Builder room". He loves it. Sometimes I find myself hiding the blue Humidity tubing on the inside rails of the crib, when tying them on. I will say my nurse and I laugh about the tubing, it matches the blue in his room. We joke and say "Please, only send the dark blue (royal blue) tubing...we need to color coordinate P's Room". Ha,Ha.!! LOL

I think there have been a lot of great Ideas given on this topic. thanks to everyone for posting, I enjoyed it also.

P's MOM http://www.twinEnterprises.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif