Emotional Support for Ventalated Patient

There are numerous tools and mechanisms that one can include in developing a direction plan to be given to a LPN/LVN on how to go about providing emotional support to a patient who is on a ventilator. Providing emotional support is crucial component for the patient overall well-being. It has been proven that the emotional state of an individual at times can cause mental health ailments or prolong the recovery of a patient. The following directives can be introduced applying the five different sensory means such as vision, hearing, smell, taste, and touch.

Sound Therapy (Hearing)
Music therapy can be used to help soothe the patient, create a positive mood, as well as give the patient a boost of energy. It helps to relieve stress and anxiety, ease depression, and help people cope with their conditions. There are many different ways that music can be administered. If the patient is alert, music requests can be discussed via verbal or written communication with patient and/or family members. Depending on the mood desired, music and sound therapy can range from fast beat instrumental or vocal songs to the calming sounds of nature such as running water or waves, birds chirping, wind blowing, etc. On the other hand if the patient is mobile, small percussion instruments can be introduced so that the patient my directly participate in the therapy and/or as well as create their own music. Besides music, a LPN/LVN can engage in a conversation with the patient if able to speak, read stories, and provide meditation and hypnosis techniques if patient is interested. Depending on the patient’s willingness to participate, it would facilitate on deciding what type of sound therapy would be the most appropriate at that moment in time.

Touch Therapy
Touch therapy is a noninvasive method of healing that was derived from an ancient laying-on of hands technique. As previously noted, depending on the patient’s alertness and mobility, touch therapy is another technique