>When I got my trach in 1994 before my physician would even consider sending
>me home both my PCA's, boyfriend, and myself got extensive training on the
>settings of the vent, what the vent was used for, suction and trach care
>techniques, and CPR. The doctor and respiratory therapists has me use the
>actual vent I was to use at home in the hospital for at least two days so I
>would get used to it.
Ditto for me. I got my trach in 1989, and I had very thorough training on
how to do trach care, suctioning, inflating and deflating the cuff, hooking
up to my vent, etc. My husband was also trained, and he actually had to do
all of these things to the nurses' satisfaction before I could go home. I,
too, used the vent that was coming home with me for about a week in the
hospital before I was discharged. One of my nurses created a "how-to"
notebook for me; it described everything that I had been taught. I used this
as a quick reference at first when I went home.
I also had a visiting nurse, physical therapist, etc. come to my home for
about a week after my discharge. The hospital and doctors were very careful
in making sure that I was comfortable with every step in learning how to live
with my trach and vent. It actually was a very smooth transition.
I wish you luck with your mother, Chris.
Carol in Massachusetts