![]() It is vital that the alarms be set appropriately otherwise, there is potential for significant morbidity and mortality. ![]() The respiratory therapist, along with the units medical director, is responsible for developing policies and procedures on the use of ventilators and management of alarms. It is vital to know what to do when an alarm sounds on the ventilator. A ventilator alarm should never be ignored or silenced without first checking the problem. Alarms: All ventilators have alarm hush sounds when there is any change in ventilation. Any healthcare worker who makes changes to the ventilator settings must be able to demonstrate the same degree of competency and training as that of a respiratory therapist.Ĥ. Every time an adjustment is made on the ventilator, the respiratory therapist must be notified so that the alarm settings can be reviewed and adjusted as needed for the safety of the patient. All respiratory therapists, by their training and daily experience, have significantly more experience and clinical competence than most healthcare professionals when it comes to the ventilator. Secondly, to provide safe care to ventilated patients, the number of healthcare professionals who are allowed to make adjustments to the ventilator should be limited. Ventilator management and respiratory therapist: The individual who is best suited to manage, adjust, and document the ventilator is the respiratory therapist. Review the last order on the ventilator settings and see if they are the same ones on the ventilator. Next, check the ventilator settings and the parameters. Assess the patient for comfort, distress, pain, and hemodynamic stability. Auscultate the chest and determine if there are any significant changes from the previous nursing shift. Check ventilator settings: When first entering the room of a patient on a ventilator, check their vital signs, including pulse oximetry and the last arterial blood gas. There should be open communication between the physician, nurse, and respiratory therapist to ensure that the ventilated patient is safe.Ģ. It is also inappropriate to say anything negative or deleterious about the patient on the ventilator. While they may not be able to speak because of the endotracheal tube, a patient may be able to communicate if provided with a piece of paper and pen. Furthermore, just because the patient is on the ventilator, it does not mean that he or she cannot hear or understand communication. Premature extubation can cause great discomfort to the patient, who may also start to move and disturb the functioning of the balloon pump. This invasive therapy is not comfortable and requires ventilation until cardiovascular stability is obtained. In some cases, ventilation may only be required because the patient is on an intra-aortic balloon pump. One professional should not start weaning or change any ventilatory status empirically but speak to all the relevant specialists first, especially the respiratory therapist. The goals of treatment regarding ventilation should be made known to everyone. For the patient to receive optimal care, communication between each other is vital. Communicate: Patients on mechanical ventilators are usually looked after by an interprofessional group of healthcare professionals that may include an intensivist, critical care nurse, nutritionist, infectious disease consult, respiratory therapist, primary care physician, and a pulmonologist. ![]() For safety, certain key features of mechanical ventilation are vital.
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