Okie
Moderator
Joined: 16 Jun 2005
Posts: 1014
Location: Oklahoma
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While I have not been hospitalized, my husband, also a cpaper, has on several occassions been admitted, to various hospitals. In all cases, we were instructed to bring his own equipment. I also found that very very few nurses know anything about cpap, how to put the mask on, what it really does etc...so having a family member with you that can be sure it is correctly applied how and when you need it is a must.
I have had nurses make such silly silly statements as, "oh, he has oxygen, it does the same thing" - NO!! O2 cannot pressurize the airway to prevent obstructions!! and finding my husband back sleeping, sedated, and snoring/choking...a nurse stated " doesn't he only need cpap at night?" to which I replied...the position of the sun has no bearing on airway collapse!" However, sedaton and back sleeping position DOES! If he is asleep, especially medicated, he Must wear it sun-up or sun-down!!
They also do not know anything about how to route the cpap thru a heated humidifier, how to adjust the mask for leaks, etc. don't even expect them to know that you can add O2, if ordered, to the cpap thru a bleed in connector....and anything they don't understand....they say they must call in an RT...to ask them, and if the RT is "off duty" they will check with him tomorrow....hey too little too late!!
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