I don't know about other hospitals, but where I work a ventilator is an indication for bronchodilator. It matters not if the patient has bronchospasm or not, because just being on a ventilator is indication enough.
So, today, when the third overdose patient in as many hours was put on a ventilator by your humble RT, and this patient too was ordered up on Ventolin Q6 hours, your humble RT approached the nursing supervisor with the quote of the day:
"Hey, Amanda, I was wondering if you'd fetch me -- at your convenience of course-- a Ventolin inhaler for this man's imaginary bronchospasms and imaginary wheezes."
Imaginary wheezes, bronchospasm, asthma, COPD and pneumonia seem to be on the prowl of late, so be on the lookout!!!
Haha, that's great!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to remember that. *jots down "Imaginary wheezes"*
This makes perfect sense. All the while I'm in clinicals giving scheduled bronchodilator tx that aren't medically indicated, but I forgot about those imaginary wheezes.