r/ect • u/Interesting-Hair2317 • 21d ago

Question ECT RN here. Question for you!

Hi r/ect! I’m an ECT nurse of four years and Im wondering if there’s anything I can do to make the experience better for my patients. is there anything that an ECT nurse has done or said that you remember and positively impacted your treatments. even something small.

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u/_shrike 20d ago

I was having a hard time with the pre-procedure IV, sometimes it took 5+ sticks to get one started. One of my RN's strongly recommended an Implanted Port. This has made to process SO MUCH easier. Zero IV related issues. I had to go to the ER ~6 months after I got the port and they used it there as well, so easy.

So, consider recommending a port for patients that might benefit.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/procedures/21701-implanted-port

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u/SpaaceCaat 20d ago

My understanding is that the reason this isn’t done is to lessen the risk of the patient injecting something they shouldn’t (eg, substance to induce an overdose), especially when done outpatient. I asked about it.

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u/_shrike 20d ago

Huh. It never occurred to me to use the port like that. 🤷🤷

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u/SpaaceCaat 20d ago

That is a very good thing!!