TIP OF THE MONTH

Administer fluids to intoxicated patients

For patients who are intoxicated and need fluid intake, set up a suction container of approximately 1 liter (or any other large cylinder container you may have in your ED), recommends Diana S. Contino, RN, MBA, CEN, CCRN, president of Emergency Management Systems, Inc. in San Diego, CA. "Fill it with ice water or any other type of drink and set it on a mayo stand or bedside table," she says. "Then, cut a green oxygen connector tube in half or thirds. Put the cut end into the liter of water and give the other end to the patient. You have to tape the "straw" to the lip of the container. Be careful how you position the green tubing, because it can work just like a siphon."

This allows your patient to drink lots of water without nurses having to get glass after glass of water. "And they don’t spill the water on themselves with their shaky, unsteady hands," says Contino. "Although it’s not too scientific, it is rather practical. So far our patients and staff love it. It’s been successful at two trauma centers and one community hospital."