Do medical professionals pick coma patients' noses?

[StageLeft]

As stated. I can't seem to find it on google. If they do, I assume with a tool or something, does anybody know for sure?

 

[Skitzer]

Thanks for the visual

 

[keird]

I was trying to pick a patient's nose last night. The patient was vomiting blood and has inhaled some into the lungs. Using a hard plastic, angled suction catheter proved ineffective to clear the vomitus. I tried naso-tracheal suctioning, but was only able to get in 6-8 cm into the left nare before meeting significant obstruction, the right nare was completely obstructed. I tried using a warm washcloth to moisten the hardened mucous to no avail. My co-worker said that she will try using an aerosol mist to soften it.

The problem is that the patient is a 'DNR' - Do Not Resuscitate' and we cannot intubate him to protect his airway.

Umm... yeah, I pick people's noses.

 

[StageLeft]

I was trying to pick a patient's nose last night. The patient was vomiting blood and has inhaled some into the lungs. Using a hard plastic, angled suction catheter proved ineffective to clear the vomitus. I tried naso-tracheal suctioning, but was only able to get in 6-8 cm into the left nare before meeting significant obstruction, the right nare was completely obstructed. I tried using a warm washcloth to moisten the hardened mucous to no avail. My co-worker said that she will try using an aerosol mist to soften it.

The problem is that the patient is a 'DNR' - Do Not Resuscitate' and we cannot intubate him to protect his airway.

Umm... yeah, I pick people's noses.

Interesting. Now what about just standard dry snots that we all get in the morning, for example, are you in there with tweezers or let it fly?

 

[keird]

Interesting. Now what about just standard dry snots that we all get in the morning, for example, are you in there with tweezers or let it fly?

Quite frankly, I don't pick the morning crud. If it impedes the airway, I'm gonna be all over it, though.

I recommend letting it fly and wiping up after. I, myself, let it fly in the shower after a period of being warm and moist from the humidity.

Edit: I also use my pinky.

 

[keird]

I have something else I'd like to confess. I pick patient's comedones, too. Sometimes they involve multiple openings for the very same one.

 

[StageLeft]

Quite frankly, I don't pick the morning crud. If it impedes the airway, I'm gonna be all over it, though.

So let's just get it out there. You find a guy's airway impeded from morning crust, are you in there with tweezers?

 

[keird]

Skoorb,

The tools that I use are nothing I would want used on me. Most of my patient's are either unconscious, obtunded (level of consciousness and/or sedated) or in an emergent situation. These tools include magill forceps, suction catheters, endotracheal tubes and laryngescopes. Do Not Want.

 

[StageLeft]

Skoorb,

The tools that I use are nothing I would want used on me. Most of my patient's are either unconscious, obtunded (level of consciousness and/or sedated) or in an emergent situation. These tools include magill forceps, suction catheters, endotracheal tubes and laryngescopes. Do Not Want.

Why no want?

 

[keird]

So let's just get it out there. You find a guy's airway impeded from morning crust, are you in there with tweezers?

A warm washcloth or a pinky when no one is looking. No tweezers. It would just be too dangerous to pierce the mucosa and cause a nasty bleed.

 

[keird]

I'm wondering if I should start a nose hair trimming service, though. I mean, it's not billable or anything, but the amount of hair coming out of an elderly nose can be staggering. It would make my job much easier for picking noses, though.

 

[StageLeft]

I'm wondering if I should start a nose hair trimming service, though. I mean, it's not billable or anything, but the amount of hair coming out of an elderly nose can be staggering. It would make my job much easier for picking noses, though.

I can only imagine. I'm only half way to being a senior and get great use out of my nose hair trimmers

 

[moshquerade]

you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your relatives... or something like that.