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ICU Secrets: Hair Care, Contacts & Delirium Explained
4 Dec
Summary
- Nurses care for patients' hair, even braiding it, to avoid shaving heads.
- Contact lenses are usually not removed by nurses during ICU care.
- ICU delirium stems from sedation, noise, and lack of windows, causing disorientation.
Intensive care units, often perceived as places of fear, have nurses who are shedding light on patient care for those in critical condition. A nurse recently shared insights into common patient queries regarding unconscious care, including the grooming of hair, with nurses ensuring it is washed and detangled, humorously noting their braiding skills are a unique addition.
Furthermore, the nurse addressed concerns about contact lenses, explaining that while eyes are checked multiple times daily for pupillary response, contact lenses are rarely removed by ICU staff unless patients arrive from emergency situations. This frequent eye monitoring, however, ensures any developing issues are noticed.
ICU delirium is a significant concern, attributed to factors such as prolonged sedation, continuous machine alarms, and disrupted sleep cycles. The enclosed environment, often without windows, contributes to patients losing their sense of time and place, leading to distressing and traumatic experiences.
