A large fire in the community, a train derailment, a tornado that destroys several homes in town, a bioterrorism attack–these are all examples of external disasters that can bring a sudden influx of patients to your hospital.  Is your hospital ready?

Every nurse working in a hospital knows to expect the unexpected. Just when the unit seems calm, your shift is well-staffed, and your patients are stable, it can turn on a dime: Your doctor decides he wants STAT blood work on one patient, your other patient’s IV infiltrates, and an admission comes in from the emergency room. Meanwhile, a code is called in the waiting room for a visitor that suddenly collapsed and is not breathing.

The Yankauer suction catheter has a long and storied history in both emergency medicine and routine care. Developed in 1907, it has been a mainstay of airway management for more than a century. Dr. Yankauer was a groundbreaking provider in his time, who wanted to carefully suction surgical patients without damaging delicate tissue.

Suctioning can be life saving, and may prevent serious complications in the dental office or surgical suite. But suctioning can also be painful and traumatic, especially if the first attempt fails. Suction complications are common and become more likely when you use the wrong suction strategy. These tips can help you choose the right suction strategy for every patient every time. 

It has been a rough year for EMS providers and healthcare systems. Interventions that were once relatively rare have now become routine. You may have noticed that your suction devices aren’t working as well as they once were, and weighing whether it is time to replace your battery-operated suction machine. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has taught many lessons. Perhaps one of the most important is that versatile equipment saves lives. Battery-operated portable emergency suction machines empower you to tend to patients wherever you find them—in their homes, in the emergency department, even in the parking lot. 

A tracheostomy can save a patient’s life, improve their quality of life, and help them live more independently. Yet this vital medical device also increases the risk of certain infections, especially pneumonia.