Guidelines for the Care of the Glass Patient

Clinical

Handover Notes: Patient 402 (Glass Transition) Night Shift Transition: Nurse H. to Nurse L. General Maintenance Use only the lint-free grade 4 polishing cloths found in the blue bin. The coarser cloths leave micro-scratches on the epidermis. If you see a smudge on the thoracic region, buff in slow, circular motions. Do not apply pressure. If you apply too much pressure, you will leave a permanent indentation in the skin. Bedding and Debris The sheets must be replaced every twelve hours. The patient sheds. These are not skin flakes; they are silica shards. They are often stained with residual blood from the internal transition. Use the magnetic sweep first to clear the larger fragments. Then use the HEPA vacuum. Do not attempt to shake the linens by hand. You will end up in the ER with a dozen splinters in your palms. Acoustic Management The patient is highly sensitive to resonance. Avoid sudden volume spikes. Do not shout, laugh loudly, or drop metal trays near the bed. Speak in a low, steady, monotonous cadence. High frequencies trigger hairline fractures in the cervical vertebrae. If a crack occurs, apply the cyanoacrylate gel immediately. The patient will emit a high-pitched ringing sound during the bonding process. It is grating, but ignore it. Temperature Control Maintain the room at exactly 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Any deviation is problematic. Below 65, the patient becomes excessively brittle and may fracture during routine turning. Above 72, the softer tissues in the abdomen begin to lose structural integrity. They will sag. This is unpleasant to look at and difficult to correct. Vitals The heart is now a solid translucent mass. Use the specialized sonic probe for heart rate. A standard stethoscope will only produce a clinking sound, similar to marbles in a jar. Do not be alarmed by the lack of a traditional pulse. Final Note The patient will try to talk about his family. Keep your responses brief and monotone. Emotional inflection can cause a fissure in the jawline. It is a tedious process to reglue.