[dad2one]

I just got accepted for an externship this summer in a Level II NICU. I know they keep 28+ weekers and vents (<24 hours I think). I'll be the only extern/student, so no sharing! Any ideas on things to read up on so I can impress everyone? I'd like to work in this unit after graduation and I hear that they "rarely" consider new grads. I figure if I impress them, I might be one of those "rare" new grads.
Bryan

[SteveRN21]

Meds: Indomethacin, ibuprofen lysine (neoprofen) Ampicillin, Gentamicin, TPN/Intralipids, Erythromycin eye gtts, Vitamin K.

Formulas: 20,22,24,27 calorie formulas, premature formulas (eg. Similac Special Care, Enfamil Premature Lipil, Breastmilk fortifiers. Isomil soy formulas.

(I'm not sure if LII's use specialty formulas like Pregestemil, Portagen, Nutramigen, Alimentum, etc.)

Resp: Exogenous surfactant ( poractant, beractant, calfactant) therapy, nasal CPAP therapy.

Common Level II diagnoses/issues: Respiratory distress syndrome, meconium aspiration, prematurity, retinopathy of prematurity, s/s feeding intolerance, hypothermia (many problems can be solved by simply warming the baby up!!) hypoglycemia (look up patho of maternal gestational diabetes...very fascinating) Effects of magnesium sulfate on newborn...(respiratory depression, seizures, feeding intolerance) maternal drug use. (Also have a good idea of normal/abn. neonatal VS.)

Skills/procedures: IV insertion/ABGs/venous/heelsticks, in and out intubation/surfactant, proper airway positioning, developmentally appropriate positioning, NRP delivery room management (you won't be doing these, but at least you'll know what's going on). Feeding techniques, NGT/OGT insertion, gavage feeds. PICC lines, umbilical line insertion/management.


This is probably much more than you were looking for....

Good Luck!

[dad2one]

Originally Posted by SteveRN21

This is probably much more than you were looking for....

Good Luck!

No, that's great, thanks! School is done at the end of April and Externship doesn't start until almos the end of May so I'll have three weeks with nothing to do except my real job and prepare for a baby (that's like vacation for me!) so I'm planning to read and study up! Besides, I'm really interested in this, so it's a lot easier!

Any specific books worth reading or just look up those topics in reference books/online/etc?

[SteveRN21]

Check out

www.Nicuniversity.com (put out by Pediatrix medical group, lots of learning modules)

www.motherbabyuniversity.com (has a lot of learning modules)

As far as books I would look at:

"Care of the Sick Neonate" by Paulette Haws

"Core Curriculum for Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing" - Therese Verklan (this is a little dry.... not many pictures, but covers a LOT of info.

"Fetal and Neonatal Secrets" Richard Polin and Alan Spitzer (Polin is our medical director, and I love this book b/c it is full of random info arranged in Q/A format.

Neofax

I subscribe to Neonatal Network ($75/yr), and it's a great resource. The journal comes out q2 months, and you can access all its archived journals online once you're a member.

[dad2one]

Originally Posted by SteveRN21

Check out

www.Nicuniversity.com (put out by Pediatrix medical group, lots of learning modules)

www.motherbabyuniversity.com (has a lot of learning modules)

As far as books I would look at:

"Care of the Sick Neonate" by Paulette Haws

"Core Curriculum for Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing" - Therese Verklan (this is a little dry.... not many pictures, but covers a LOT of info.

"Fetal and Neonatal Secrets" Richard Polin and Alan Spitzer (Polin is our medical director, and I love this book b/c it is full of random info arranged in Q/A format.

Neofax

I subscribe to Neonatal Network ($75/yr), and it's a great resource. The journal comes out q2 months, and you can access all its archived journals online once you're a member.

Thanks!

[SarasotaRN2b]

SteveRN21, I know this was meant for bryanboling5, but it's a great resource for anyone interested interested in the NICU.

bryan, where are you doing your externship? PM me if you don't want to give it on a regular post. You live on LI, right?

Kris

[dad2one]

Originally Posted by SarasotaRN2b

SteveRN21, I know this was meant for bryanboling5, but it's a great resource for anyone interested interested in the NICU.

bryan, where are you doing your externship? PM me if you don't want to give it on a regular post. You live on LI, right?

Kris

No, I live in KY...I PM'd you the name of the hospital.