It's been two weeks since I moved Dad to the new ALF, and I thought I was pretty clear on what we needed when it comes to Dad's oxygen. He's on two tanks... the portable when he goes to meals (a feat in itself) and the stationary unit when he's in his room.
The staff should know that Dad needs to be on the oxygen at all times, but every time I visit, the battery in the portable is dead (they don't plug it in), and he does not have the cannula to the stationary machine in his nose.
I wrote out detailed instructions that they assured me was shared with all staff members and I have reminder notes taped up by the machines as well as instructions on the whiteboard in Dad's room, but this is still going on.
I emailed the nursing director yesterday and provided a copy of the document I supplied when we reviewed Dad's care plan at admission, and she assured me that it would be done, but everyday it's the same thing. As a result, I'm stopping by daily to do what I asked them to do.
So frustrating...
There are cheap ones available at drugs stores; my experience is that they're not all that accurate.
If you get a good one, such as from a pharmacy, keep track of the rates. If they're below 90, get a nurse in right away and show her the rate, asking her to confirm, and perhaps just tuck away the log you're keeping enough that she sees you're documenting.
Or just contact the DON and raise the issue; that's what I'd do, after getting the SAT rates.
I just don't understand when someone ignores protocols on something as critical as oxygen.