Airway - passageway by which air enters and leaves the lungs as well as a mechanical
device used to keep the air passageway unobstructed.
- if
... [Show More] Intubated check ET tube. the cuff is locked(inflated) and the number placement of ET
tube is intact (markings-length of ET tube)
Arterial Line - A catheter inserted into an artery, used most commonly to measure realtime blood pressure and obtain samples for arterial blood gas.
This is a line that goes into the patients' artery. It allows the nurse to see the blood
pressure continuously and also allows the nurse to take bloods when required. It is a
red line that usually goes into a patients arm and is connected to the cardiac monitor
(the box that looks like a tv) and shows the blood pressure constantly
Breathing - movement of air into and out of the lungs
- check chest rises, symmetrical (equal expansions), auscultate chest even with
mechanical ventilator attached, (secured) appropriate oxygen level set-up
Cardiac Monitor - an electronic device that is attached to a patient in order to visualize,
over time, the rate and rhythm of his or her heart; alarms can be set based on abnormal
readings
A cardiac event monitor is a device that you control to record the electrical activity of
your heart (ECG). This device is about the size of a pager. It records your heart rate and
rhythm. Cardiac event monitors are used when you need long-term monitoring of
symptoms that occur less than daily. Continuous cardiac monitoring allows for prompt
identification and initiation of treatment for cardiac arrhythmias and other conditions.
Central Line - An IV access into one of the major blood vessels.
This is a line that goes in through one of the large blood vessels in the neck or the groin.
This line allows us to give multiple medications at the same time, and to give strong
medications that can only go through a large vessel. The medications flow through the
pumps and connect to these lines into the body. The ICU team usually place this line in
the ICU, or sometimes it is done in theatre before an operation
Circulation - Touch patient to feel if warm or cold (upper and lower extremities), skin
color, check IV lines (no obstructions, IV sites), check appropriate IV drops on different
IV drugs, Check all lines or contraptions attached (proper label with date and time) [Show Less]