Day Surgery/Asessment Ward Week 1 - clinical skills/knowledge

Taking temperature, pulse and respirations in children

Temperature should not be taken orally for children under 5. Instead use the Tympanic in the ear (1 year+) or tempadot in the axilla for 3 minutes. After age of 5, a tempadot can be used orally for 1 minute.

Radial pulses are very hard to find in babies. You can use a stethoscope and listen to the heart beat instead (on the apex). In young children, who wriggle, record temperature for 15 seconds then multiply by 4. For older, do for 30 seconds- 1 minute.

Respirations should be done visually when they are unaware. If unable to see, place hand on stomach or shoulder to count.

Other
Use orange needle for drawing up fluid from glass ampoules (smaller bore, less risk of glass getting in)

3 way taps - for IV, allow two points of access for drugs via one cannula

Luer Lock Syringes - can screw the end in