Ventricular Assist Device, Home Care

· Perform triple action for drainage system (secure catheter, position drainage bag below bladder, check system for closed connections and no kinks) (“Streamlined Evidence-Based”, 2009, pp. 1-2).

Whilst carrying out the procedure I felt confident with my practice of the dressing change using the Aseptic technique. Although I was slightly nervous and self-conscious as I was aware that the trained Nurse was observing me, I felt that this did not come across in my body language or my practice. When the Nurse told me that I was not using the Aseptic Non Touch Technique I felt unsure of the whole process which then led to me re-evaluating my practice within this area.

It can also occur during blood transfusion or during dressing change. The insertion of central catheters can occur in the Interventional Radiology or sometimes at the bedside. Regardless of the where the insertion process occur, a sterile field must always be maintained and sterile techniques must always be employed to prevent any organisms from being introduced to the central line into the patient. According to The Joint Commission (2013), many organizations such as Michigan Keystone Intensive Care Unit Project and Institute for Healthcare Improvement are actually adhering to insertion bundles to reduce the CLABSI rates. The bundles include hand hygiene, maximal barrier precautions, chlorhexidine skin preparation, avoidance of femoral vein, and prompt removal of central catheter. Furuya et al. (2011) studied the effectiveness of the insertion bundle and how it impacts the bloodstream infections for patients in the Intensive Care Unit. As a result, lesser infection have occurred when the compliance is high. As mentioned, the site of the catheter also needs to be considered in the insertion process. Avoiding areas such as the groin to access the femoral artery is recommended because this area can be easily contaminated with urine or feces. In addition, after the insertion of a new central line, all the used IV tubing

Only when it is absolutely necessary should a catheter be inserted into a patient. Every patient is assessed for the need for a Foley catheter. If the Foley is inserted, assessments are also then done daily to see if the need is still valid. If the reason is not justifiable the catheter must be removed from the patient (Joint Commission releases new NPSG for CAUTI, 2011). Nurses must follow guidelines while inserting indwelling catheters as well. Aseptic technique is critical to maintain during this process. The use of sterile equipment and a sterile procedure helps to reduce the risk of CAUTI. If in any way the catheter becomes contaminated during the process of insertion, the nurse should discard of the entire catheter and start with a new, sterile kit. Proper hand hygiene is very important before and after contact with indwelling catheters to decrease risk of infection. Maintenance of a close drainage is system is also important that way bacteria are not able to get in and cause infection (Revello & Gallo, 2013). Decreasing the number of times Foleys are inserted and how long they stay in for can help reduce the risk of CAUTI since the longer a Foley stays in, the higher the risk of infection becomes. Nurses must keep the catheter line patent, with no kinks to allow urine to flow freely through into the collection bag. When a urine sample must be obtained it must be done in a sterile

Transitional care management includes services provided to patients whose medical problems require moderate or high complexity medical decision making during their transition from inpatient care to an outpatient setting. Transitional care for heart failure includes a collaborative effort by all health providers to ensure that the patient outcomes are improved. Key components of a transitional care plan for a heart failure patient includes identifying and assessing caregivers to determine their needs for education and support, integrating caregivers into the patient’s healthcare team, and bridging communications between patients, caregivers, and providers. Implementation of transitional care in a hospital setting should include comprehensive discharge planning, home visits, structured telephone support, scheduled follow up visits, and additional printed and online education and disease management information. In a meta-analysis of transitional care interventions to assess the efficacy, comparative effectiveness of transitional care interventions that reduce readmission and mortality rates for adults hospitalized with HF, concluded that home-visiting, multidisciplinary heart failure clinic interventions, and structured telephone support reduced heart failure specific readmission and mortality, and that these interventions should receive the greatest consideration by

replaces it with a condom catheter attached to a drainage bag since the patient has a

Wash your hands and all of the equipment with mild soap and water. As a final rinse on the equipment, use deionized water. Dry all equipment thoroughly.

In contemporary times, lots of registered nurses practice wound dressing based upon expertise of sequential step-by-step actions as opposed to comprehending the concepts underpinning the most efficient strategies to wound dressing. Presently 2 leading dressing techniques, aseptic (clean hand/dirty hand) method and wound industry, are being instructed to undergraduate nursing pupils. Jointly and relatively, both methods have actually stimulated some debate relating to the most suitable and efficient method to use (Gillespie and Fenwick, 2009).

Health care providers and visitors are required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and follow strict hand hygiene procedures. Contaminated rooms, surfaces, and laundry items are properly disinfected to prevent the spread of MRSA. In addition to policy and procedures, patient teaching is also helpful for preventing exposure and spread of MRSA. As aforementioned earlier, hand hygiene is key to prevent exposer or transmission of the bacteria. To properly wash your hand effectively, first scrub hands rapidly for at least 15 seconds. Next, use a disposable towel to dry them and another towel to turn off the faucet. In addition, hand sanitizer that contains 62 percent or more of alcohol may be an adequate substitute when the individual does not have access to soap and water (Mayo Clinic Staff,

Rinse at least four inches of catheter nearest the meatus. Move only in one direction, away from the meatus. Use a clean area of the cloth for each

The author of this document attempts to explain what is a ventricular assist device, its basic function, the reasons for use, possible complications and nursing care aimed to prevent this. Also, the impact that current technology has in the management of Heart Failure, and prolongation of life quality and expectancy while waiting for heart transplant. Furthermore, it reviews the incorporation of essential elements of safe nursing care to current nursing standards of care when caring for patients with ventricular assist device. Also, this document analyses and complete three evidence-base practice articles in nursing care with QSEN guidelines. Lastly, this documents review the safety concerns that are related to the technology when it

Put used gloves and gown in to yellow infectious waste bin, which should be either just inside the room or outside the door before leaving the room.

Pulse Home Health Care, Inc. has offices on the Northshore and Southshore and their service area includes the following Louisiana parishes: Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, and Tangipahoa. Locally owned and operated, Pulse’s multi-disciplinary team of professionals consists of: Skilled Nursing, Home Health Aides, Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapists. Naturally, there is a physician Medical Director and physicians who rotate admitting/discharging patients, taking call and giving orders for each office, Mandeville and Metairie locations. Pulse offers Orthopedic Rehabilitation, Fall Injury Prevention, Wound Care, Stroke Rehabilitation, Therapeutic Diet Consultation, Medication Teaching, Diabetes Management, Hypertension Management, Lymphedema Management, Home Infusion Nursing, Pressure Ulcers Care & Prevention, Medical Observation, Heart Failure Management & Rehabilitation, Chronic Airway Obstruction Management & Rehabilitation, Home Safety Evaluations, and Dysphasia Treatment. Pulse Home Health accepts all forms of private insurance as well as Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay patients.

There are a variety of surgical items that can get left inside of patients. Generally, it seems that sponges, towels and gauze are the most common types of objects left inside of patients;

Scrub the site of the puncture with a alcohol pad. Use a circular scrubbing motion, from inside to outside only. Cover a wide area around the selected site, 3 to 4 inches. This may have to be repeated depending on the cleanliness of the patient. Cleansing the site prevents chemical or microbial contamination of specimen and patient. Do not touch this area again. Let the area air dry. Do not blow on or fan the area. The alcohol should be allowed to dry to avoid hemolysis and/or burning sensation when the venipuncture is performed. It is better to use syringes if veins are small. butterfly collection sets are also available and useful if multiple tubes are needed. If a syringe is used, move the plunger up and down in the barrel once or