Table of Contents
REQUIREMENTS #
A trolley containing the following:
- Top Shelf: A sterile field with two sterile gallipots
- Bottom Shelf
- Sterile and epidural pack (if available)
- Local anaesthetic agent
- Antimicrobial solution
- Sterile gloves
- Sterile cotton wool swab
- Spinal cannula different sizes
- Medication
- Adhesive tape/strip
- Receiver for used items
- Syringes and needles
- Vital signs tray
- Sharps container
STEPS #
- Check for the right patient, right medication, right time, right dose against doctor’s order and treatment chart (manual or electronic) as well as the expiry date
- Establish rapport (Refer to steps)
- Explain the procedure to the patient
- Obtain verbal or formal consent from patient and relatives
- Reassure him/her to gain co-operation
- Provide privacy
- Instruct patient to void before the procedure
- Perform hand hygiene
- Prepare sterile trolley and send to the bedside
- Check patient’s vital signs
- Provide adequate lightening at the puncture site
- Assist patient into a required position i.e. lying or sitting and supports him/her
- Open the equipment tray taking care not to contaminate
- Continue to support, observe and reassure patient throughout the procedure
- Wear sterile gloves and applies sterile dressing when needle is withdrawn
- Secure punctured site firmly with a sterile dry swab and an adhesive tape
- Allow patient to lie flat on the back and make him/her comfortable
- Document procedure on nurses’ notes and chart on the treatment chart (manual or electronic)
- Dispose off used items and decontaminate trolley
- Perform hand hygiene
- Observe patient continuously for therapeutic and adverse effects