I am Sleep tech, do you guys have any suggestions?

frostman · Post by **frostman** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 8:48 am

I had a good study, mainly because I took melatonin to help me sleep and the technician was very good. One problem I did have though was when I need to get up and go the bathroom, I need to go. I think Glen; my tech had fallen asleep because I was yelling until he finally came. People should be cautioned to drink very few liquids that night to minimize bathroom breaks. When I went in for the second time for a titration study he did a good job, but I think mask selection would be a good idea. For those that would only need a nasal mask I would suggest sleep labs use the mirage active because it is such a great first timer’s mask, and can be worn so loosely.

ahujudybear · Post by **ahujudybear** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 11:21 am

Hi, Lab Tech!

What a wonderful place for you to ask questions! You have already taken the first MAJOR step toward improving the experience for your patients.

If you will search on my name or on sleep study updates or the most reecent CO2 Monitor report, you will see some of the problems I have had with sleep study technicians and equipment.

For this most recent study, the doctor told me to bring my OWN BiPAP because the one they were using in the lab either could not be set sensitively enough for me to use or the techs did not know how to set it properly for me (The problem was the machine not being sensitive enough, I us a Puritan-Bennett GoodKnight BiPAP with the sensor tube and the IPAP sensitivity set on "1".)

The doctor has since told me that it has only been with the GK and similar machines that the IPAP setting could be set to anything below "5", so most labs do not have machines with that capability - unless it is a VERY OLD machine. The really old ones all had the sensor tubes and the lower settings!

CareS · Post by **CareS** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 11:46 am

I agree about opening a pandora's box with this post. When I had my sleep study I remember the bed being uncomfortably hard and the pillows were uncomfortable too. Being in a strange place, hooked up to all this sleep related paraphenalia and wearing this strange contraption (uncomfortable mask), I am bothered by having to wear eye glasses on my face. I brought my portable radio but was told not to use it because it would interfere with the electrodes etc. A television in the room with a boring program on it would have helped me immensely to fall asleep. A book would have been good but I have to wear glasses to read and they do not fit on the hospital mask so I spent the night wide awake watching the lights flashing on the instrument panel. I MUST have slept very briefly, long enough for them to get the readings on my O.S.A. but I would have said I was up for a very long night. CareS

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 1:47 pm

sleeptech87,

Have you come back to read the comments that you asked for or have you run for the hills yet?

jdacal · Post by **jdacal** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 2:14 pm

1. Provide as much information about apnea, the testing, what the patient will feel during the testing, and how the results will be interpreted before doing anything else. The more information that is provided to the patient the smoother everything will go and the quicker the patient will fall to sleep feeling that they are an active participant in the study.

2. Create as much of a home atmosphere as possible in the room. My favorite test had an easy chair, covers on the bed a dresser, etc., I immediately felt relaxed upon entering. Felt more like a hotel than a hospital room.

3. Let the patient know that his/her mouth may dry out during the night and place a glass of water by the bed! If the patient does have a mouth breathing problem, offer a chin strap or a full face mask.

4. Provide as much info as possible after the study letting the patient know preliminary results and possible therapy or treatments that the doctor might suggest when he receives the results.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 12:12 am

I have actually been doing this for nearly two years, so I am not entirely new to it. I was really wondering how it must feel to have a study done just like a patient. I have had just a basic study done to see how it feels, but I KNEW what was going on and why and all that, so I think it felt totally different than what patient's go through. I appreciate all the tips you have given me. I can't believe some of the things that some other techs do. I personally request you sleep on your back, but if you cant fall asleep that way to roll to your side, I NEVER turn on the overhead lights unless I have to, I have a flashlight that I use. About the selection of masks though, I don't set out too many for the patient to pick from. I have had quite a few people be overwhelmed at the variety and panic. I only put out four or five different masks. Which do you think would be better? Did it help you to have a wide selection of masks? I do have one other question though. When one of my patients has been struggling to sleep and has been awake for an hour, I go in and ask how they are doing, if there is anything I can do to make them more comfortable, that sort of thing. I have had one or two patient's that complained that I only aggravated them by checking on them. Is it good to come and check on the patient or would it be frustrating? What do you think?

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 5:04 am

You sound like an angel with a huge amount of compassion and heart. Good to know people like you exist in this field.
Yes, I would say if you can REALLY tell someone is wide awake, go in and ask if there's something you can do. Otherwise, they may just be at the point of falling asleep and that might wake them up entirely and they'll have to start all over again.
I can't imagine you, in any case, making a sleep study worse or more intolerable. With the caring you show, I can only see it as being the best experience possible. Thanks for caring so much.

WAFlowers · Post by **WAFlowers** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 4:00 pm

Personally I'd appreciate the caring you show by coming in and asking. But if you tell them ahead of time that you'll do that if it appears that they can't fall asleep, I think it might solve the problem for the few that were bothered.

Bottom line: the fewer surprises the patient has, the more comfortable they will be and more successful the study. Eliminate the "surprise" of you asking if you can help, and I think you'll be the tech every person wants to see!

Fatigue Fighter · Post by **Fatigue Fighter** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 4:14 pm

What you are doing is wonderful! You say you have been through a basic study. That is great. Because you knew what to expect, you were more relaxed. As Bill and others have offered, tell the patient what to expect and that may help ease them. I think an actual patient will normally have more anxiety during the test since they have never been through it before and they realize they will have to wear a mask and have air blown at them every night if they are diagnosed with sleep apnea. I don't know if you had a PES done, but when I had it, I vowed I would never go thru that again.

As for masks, providing a selection of 5 to start is reasonable. I had one choice. When I asked what else, they brought out another one but it was not a nasal/pillow system (it was a nose only mask). Yuck!

I agree that checking in on the patient when they don't seem to be sleeping just to see how that are doing and if there is anything you can do to make them more comfortable is very helpful. Silly me, (trying to be brave), I waited way too long before I just couldn't take it any more and called the sleep tech for help.

Keep doing what you are doing and looking for ways to improve. Your'e definitely a keeper. Thanks for asking.

FF

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 8:43 pm

Thank you all for your suggestions! I will keep them all in mind and try to incorporate them into my routine and hookup and titration process!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 5:17 am

Thanks to YOU for caring. Your sleep study patients are very lucky to get you as their RT.

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 5:22 am

Guest was me, sleeptech. Forgot to sign in.

I am Sleep tech, do you guys have any suggestions?

I am a sleep tech....etc.

Thanks so much!!