IACSS Flashcards
How do you initiate any procedure with a patient?
- Gather equipment
- Introduce yourself
- Identify patient
- Explanation and rationale
- Informed consent
What equipment do you need to take vital obs from a patient?
- Sphygmomanometer
- Stethoscope
- O₂ sats probe
- Thermometer and covers
- Watch with seconds hand
- Clinell wipes
- Pillow
- Alcohol hand wash
How do you measure someone’s blood pressure?
- Reposition with arm at level of heart
- Check arm for any contraindications to taking blood pressure
- “This will just involve me tightening a cuff on your arm twice and deflating it each time. It won’t hurt but it might be a bit uncomfortable”
- Place cuff 2cm above antecubital fossa
- Inflate cuff and obtain an estimated systolic pressure whilst palpating the radial pulse
- Deflate cuff
- Correctly place stethoscope over brachial artery
- Re-inflate cuff 10-30 above the estimated systolic pressure, then whilst auscultating the brachial artery, deflate the cuff at 2mm/Hg/second to obtain systolic and diastolic pressure readings
What pre-assessment questions are required before taking vital obs?
- Are you comfortable?
- In the last 30 mins, have you…
a) eaten a large meal or had a cold drink?
b) had a hot bath?
c) smoked a cigarette?
d) undertaken vigorous exercise? - Are you on any BP lowering medication?
- Do you use a hearing aid or have an ear infection?
- Do you have an arterio-venous fistula?
- Have you had any operations on your ams, axillae, or breasts?
- Do you have any pain, swelling, or weakness in your arms?
What are the contraindications for blood pressure readings being taken on the arm?
- Bruising / swelling / broken skin
- Local infection
- IV lines and cannulas on that side
- Weakness due to stroke
- Arteriovenous shunt for renal dialysis
- Lymph node removal / radiotherapy on that side
- Recent surgery on the arm
How do you measure tympanic temperature?
- Ask patient if they use a hearing aid or have an ear infection / pain
- “This will just involve a small thermometer in your ear for several seconds - it will not be uncomfortable”
- Place disposable cover on probe
- Insert at correct angle
- Activate and wait for the signal from the thermometer
- Record reading
- Dispose of the disposable cover
How do you measure pulse rate?
- Locate radial artery
- Palpate radial artery for 1 minute (or 15 seconds and multiple by 4)
- Note the rhythm of the pulse - check if pulse is regular
- Record your findings on the obs chart
How do you measure respiratory rate?
- Whilst appearing to be palpating the radial artery and measuring pulse rate, count the resp rate of the patient for one minute (or 15sx4)
- One respiration consists of the full cycle of inspiration and expiration
- Record findings
How do you measure oxygen saturation?
- Make sure the finger is well perfused (i.e. no tight jewellery)
- “I need to measure the amount of oxygen in your blood by attaching this probe onto the end of your finger - this is a completely painless procedure”
- Select finger which doesn’t have a false nail / nail polish
- Attach saturation probe
- Switch on the machine
- Observe and record oxygen saturation
- Note if the patient was breathing room air, or was on oxygen - if oxygen as being delivered, record percentage of oxygen
What equipment do you need for venepuncture?
- Blood request forms and notes
- Butterfly needle
- Barrel
- Blood sample tubes / culture bottles
- Sharps bin
- Clinell wipe x2
- Tourniquet
- Gauze
- Cotton wool and tape
How do you prepare equipment / patient for venepuncture?
- “I’ve been asked to take a small blood sample from you today. All that will involve is one small needle to the inside of your elbow, and will feel like a sharp scratch.”
- “There are some potential complications; pain, bleeding, swelling, bruising, and infection, but I will try to minimise this as much as possible.”
- “In the last 30 minutes, have you smoked? Eaten a large meal? Had a hot or cold drink? Had a hot bath? Exercised vigorously?
- “Have you ever had an artery-venous fistula? An operation on your arm, armpit, or breasts? Do you currently have any pain, swelling, or weakness in your arm? Do you have any allergies?”
- Assess arm and check for local contraindications - RASHES OR BROKEN SKIN
- Put pillow under patient’s arm and apply tourniquet ~5cm above antecubital fossa
- Identify suitable site by inspection and palpation
- REMOVE TOURNIQUET
What are the contraindications for venepuncture?
- Broken skin
- Arteriovenous fistula
- Local infection
- Hard / cord like veins on palpation
- Breast / axillary / arm surgery
- Breast / axillary lymph node removal or radiotherapy
How do you use a butterfly device to obtain blood cultures / samples?
- Remove protective cap from blood culture bottle, disinfect rubber septum with wipe and allow to dry
- Apply tourniquet 5-10cm above intended site and identify vein
- Clean site as per local policy - DO NOT REPALPATE
- Open butterfly device and connect to vacutainer using aseptic technique
- “Sharp scratch”
- Remove safety sheath from butterfly needle, stretch skin below the site and insert the needle (bevel upwards) at an angle of 45º
- Advance needle until flashback of blood appears
- Secure butterfly to patient’s arm using tape across wings
- Attach vacutainer to blood culture bottle and allow required amount of blood to collect - AEROBIC BEFORE ANAEROBIC
- Attach blood sample tubes to vacutainer to collect blood - invert tubes to mix
- Release the tourniquet BEFORE REMOVING NEEDLE
- Remove needle in smooth movement, apply pressure with cotton wool, and dispose of needle in sharps bin
- Label samples correctly and complete relevant forms
- Aftercare of patient
What order must you collect blood cultures and samples?
- Aerobic
- Anaerobic
- UandEs (yellow)
- FBC (purple)
What equipment is required for establishing peripheral intravenous access?
- Cannula
- Sterile bung
- Clinell wipe
- Tourniquet
- Transparent dressing
- Syringe
- 0.9% sodium chloride injection for flush (CHECK EXPIRY DATE)
- Alcohol gel hand wash