Nursing Policy - Ontario parents

mylesmom · #1 01-30-2008, 06:45 AM

Interestingly enough, I had a conversation with one of our nurses last night who told me she "thought we were not allowed to put a trach back in"...............so, I asked her "If the trach came out and we weren't home what would you do?" She said she would put it back in because she was comfortable and trained to do it, but she was not sure if other nurses were in fact "allowed" to put a trach back in.

I asked her then was nursing more of a respite for parents rather than the continuation of the "life saving" care of the hospital. When they sent us home from the hospital I was under the assumption the care our son received would be somewhat equal to that of the hospital. I am starting to get the impression that some of these nurses really are not adequately trained and are more so there to "babysit" rather than be a life saving, medically trained pediatric professional.

I was somewhat taken aback at the thought that perhaps one or more of our nurses would not put the trach back in for the "risk" it entailed.......

Is anyone aware of policy regarding re-inserting the trach.......or policy from CCAC regarding this? I am going to start doing my homework. I feel a little silly, I just assumed that any nurse I left my child in the care of was comfortable with the trach and would know how to put it back in. Isn't that what they are around for and isn't that what our child needs 24 hour care for?

T-bone · #2 01-30-2008, 08:32 AM

I live in Ontario and I have never, ever heard of this at all. My nurses have never mentioned it. I have told them what to do if the trach falls out and they will always ask questions and want to know what to do.
It sounds ridiculous if you ask me. What is the point of having them then?
Tess

annettevz · #3 01-30-2008, 10:07 AM

When Ashley had night nursing, the nurses weren't allowed to to put the trach back in. I think it was the agency's policy. I trained them all though and they would if necessary. Luckily Ash's trach never camere are out. The nurse at school won't put her trach back in either. She says she's too nervous and doesn't want to hurt Ashley. I personally think its bull. She's not going to be Ash's nurse for much longer. There are 2 new nurses coming in who both have trach experience and will put the trach back in if needed.

I agree, it is ridiculous.

Annette

suzanne2545 · #4 01-30-2008, 11:08 AM

None of our nurses have ever said that, but I've never asked point blank what they are allowed. I will say two things.

One. Our nurses know that at night if anything is amiss the expectation is that they scream, not waste time running up the stairs.

Two. There are only a few of our nurses that I would leave alone with Parker because I know, without a doubt they will do what they need to do. Anymore, if we leave him though we are also leaving the big boys with a sitter and our sitters all have a fair amount of training in Parker's care too.

Suzanne

Mom2TwinsPlus1 · #5 01-30-2008, 11:13 AM

I live in the US but its our nursing company's policy not to allow nurses to mess with the trach at all. I am lucky though, all my nurses that I keep know how to do it and assure me that in an emergency they would.

alizesmom · #6 01-30-2008, 11:41 AM

I just asked my nurses. They have a written policy on how to replace the trach if needed in an emergency. I wonder if the rules pertain to countries, states (provinces) or agencies? Karen

Mom2TwinsPlus1 · #7 01-30-2008, 12:20 PM

I bet it could differ per a lot of those things. I am thinking mainly agencies because of what their insurance covers in case of an accident/malpractice

JWorthington · #8 01-30-2008, 12:53 PM

What's the point in having a nurse for a trached child who can't put the trach in?? That's bonkers

We may as well just leave our kids with anybody - what's the point in paying for a nurse who isn't able to do the job. The trach is the child's airway - if that's not protected then what chance does the child have?

Julie

T-bone · #9 01-30-2008, 02:13 PM

I called my agency this am. They said that if the trach is new then they would call 911, because they wouldn't want to mess with the site.
She also said that if the nurse doesn't have any trach experience then they are trained to call 911. Or if the nurse isn't very comfortable with a trach and if it fell out then they would call 911 first. I told the lady that I wouldn't leave my child with someone who wasn't trained well enough anyway.

The point of having nursing care is to leave your child with someone who is capable in their medical care. How crazy is that?

She also said that if the child was managing well with the trach out, (like Abby would) then they would just call 911 or if the nurse was comfortable they could pop it back in.

I will be asking my nurse when she gets home with Abby today.

Tess

TommysMommy · #10 01-30-2008, 02:16 PM

I'm really glad this issue came up, since we are about to finally have nursing. We are going with a pediatric agency, and I was hoping with doing so, that I would get nurses comfortable around children and trachs. If it's their policy to not touch the trach, then why would they even BE here? I'm going to look into this.