Treatment Orders

Physicians’ orders that require staff members to perform a specific treatment (medical care) are classified as treatment orders. Many treatment orders are carried out by the Nurses, but there are also some treatment orders carried out by Physiotherapists. The following two tables provide some examples of commonly ordered treatments.

Treatments carried out by NURSES

*Physician Order*		*Definition and description*

Re-position q2h		change the patient’s position in bed every two hours - done to prevent bedsores from developing
Heel boots		apply heel boots (plastic boots with sheepskin lining) - used to prevent bedsores from developing

O₂per NP at 3L/min		oxygen is given through nasal prongs at three litres per minute

Titrate O₂to keep SATS greater than 92%		adjust the flow of oxygen (litres per minute) to keep the patient’s oxygen saturation level greater than 92% Saturation or SATS refers to the level of oxygen in the patient's blood stream, which is measured with a machine that clips on the patient's finger.
Bridine prep L leg		apply bridine solution (an antiseptic) to the patient’s left leg - done to prepare for an operation; to cleanse the skin in preparation for surgery.
Shave prep L leg		shave the hair off the patient’s left leg - done to prepare for an operation
Remove staples		remove the staples which were put in to the patient’s skin to close a wound (surgical or otherwise)
Remove sutures		remove the sutures which were put in to the patient’s skin to close a wound (surgical or otherwise)
∆ drsg		change dressing (a triangle is the sign meaning "change") - the dressing covering a wound is taken off and a new, clean dressing is put on

Take down bulky drsg		take off the big, bulky dressing applied to the surgical wound in the operation room and replace with a small dressing
Sitz baths tid		sitz bath 3 times a day A sitz bath is a bowl of warm water that fits on the rim of a toilet and it’s used for women who’ve had an episiotomy during childbirth (an intentional incision of the vaginal opening to widen it or prevent tearing). Sitz baths help keep the incision clean.

DB&C		patient is to take a deep breath and then cough – nurses encourage the patient to DB&C frequently, to help clear out and oxygenate their lungs

Incentive spirometry		the patient is given an incentive spirometer and shown how to use it. An incentive spirometer is a device which teaches the patient to take slow, deep breaths. Not breathing deeply enough can lead to lung problems. Used post-operatively and for lung illnesses such as pneumonia.

Postural draining		a method of draining mucus from the lungs by placing the patient in different positions to drain the different lobes of the lungs

Treatments carried out by PHYSIOTHERAPIST

*Physician Order*		*Definition and description*

Chest physio		chest physiotherapy (also known as chest percussion or chest cupping) A method of removing mucus from the lungs by use of percussion (cupped hands are used to lightly strike various areas of the patient’s thorax) - used in combination with postural draining.

Crutch walking		teach the patient the proper way to use crutches

ROM		range of motion exercises - a set of exercises done to preserve flexibility and mobility of joints. In passive ROM, the Physiotherapist moves the joint through the exercises, with no effort from the patient. In active ROM, the Physiotherapist teaches the patient how to do the exercises.

CMM/CPM		continuous motion machine/continuous passive motion machine A machine that gently bends the leg up and down (used post-op for knee and hip surgeries). These machines provide passive range of motion for the joints.