(sorry, this is week 3s Blogg!)
For those that have had a cardiopulmonary prac, you would know that our suctioning proceedures are very hiegenic and precise! We must remember to wipe the intubated/NP tubing with an alcohol wipe to remove germs prior to suctioning, must double glove, and make sure we do not touch the catheter with any surface other than the clean double gloved hand. We go down the patients airways further than most nursing staff and our suctioning technique is often different.
On my current cardio prac however, I found it very frustrating to be in the process of perfecting this skill and have nursing and other staff ask things such as "what are you putting a second glove on for" "thats a weird way of doing it" and even staff telling me I was doing it wrong! Some staff tried to show me how to do it 'right' (which often included re-using the same catheter tubing rather than getting a clean one each time, touching dirty surfaces with your 'clean' hand, and not going far enough down the patients airways to even elicit a cough reflex!!) I found this awkward as I'm sure they've been suctioning for far longer than me, but at the same time it is in the patient's interests to suction hiegenically and effectively, which is not what they were doing.
I found the best way to deal with these situations is to simply explain that we had been taught differently before the nurse could jump in to 'give me a demonstration', and encourage staff to leave me to do it as I had been taught. I would also explain why we were taught that way, hopefully this would cause them to think more about perfecting their own techniques a bit aswell. I also spoke to my supervisor to make sure I was indeed suctioning the correct way, and she assured me that although others have different views on technique its important i use the most effective and up-to-date method.
So although as students we will often come across situations when more experiences health professionals are trying to show us less-optimal methods of treatment we must understand that we are given the most recent and effective techniques and should have enough confidence to follow the methods we know will maximise the patients wellbeing.
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2 comments:
Hey that's a great way of dealing with this situation. I know I've been in the same position before and never know what to do. I'm going to try to be a whole lot more assertive now and have confidence in what I have been taught!
This is sooo true! I also saw first-hand the unhygienic methods of suctioning by the nursing staff ie. not double gloving, reusing dirty catheters, not preoxygenating the patient etc. and it is difficult to avoid pointing out their faults in technique after they have so righteously critisized yours. I think this will indefinately be a problem between allied health members, due to the fact that there is overlap in things that each staff member does for the patient. However, ultimately the way you dealt with the situation was very appropriate and all any of us can do is ensure that our technique or approach is safety conscious.
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