cvicugirl BSN, RN

cvicugirl has 15 years experience as a BSN, RN and specializes in STICU, CVICU, Flight.

Latest Activity

1. Help me help you

   cvicugirl replied to RABOEHM's topic in CCU

   Good advice from everyone. Make sure the docs and nurses disinfect their stethoscopes also (quite important with a surgical chest.)

2. everyone is stumped

   cvicugirl replied to **LaurelRN's topic in MICU

   I'm still curious-what causes green sweat?

3. Nursing specialities most receptive to CAM & holistic nursing?

   cvicugirl replied to touchhealth's topic in Holistic

   We use music therapy in our heart program to decrease anxiety pre/post op. Specifically, instrumentals with 60 beats per minute, to mimic a "calm" heart rate.

4. Hespan

   cvicugirl replied to Aneroo's topic in MICU

   In my experience, hespan has fallen out of use due to cost vs. benefit when compared to NS. Also, as PrettyinPink1234 mentions, coagulopathy and nephrotox are potential risks of use/overuse.

5. Octuplets

   cvicugirl replied to Sweeper933's topic in NICU

   [quote name= The Mom (Nadya) has done IVF for all of her children, using the same (unidentified) sperm donor for them all. According to grandma, Nadya "just wanted one more girl"...[/quote] I'm a lurker from CVICU and have enjoyed reading your commen...

6. Blake CT with JP

   cvicugirl replied to cardiorn04's topic in CCU

   We had a surgeon who used to do that, too. I'm fairly certain our P+P used the same measurement frequency as a "normal" chest tube (measured and dumped hourly) and it also included regular instruction re: JP care. Emptying the JP with a large syrin...

7. massaging a hematoma post sheath removal

   cvicugirl replied to msperkey's topic in CCU

   I have witnessed many a CCL tech and a cardiologist or two massage a forming hematoma at the same time they were holding manual pressure. The cardiologist was essentially "milking" the hematoma from the cath puncture. Although I sort of see what th...

8. Online ACLS Renewal

   cvicugirl posted a topic in CCU

   Okay, what is your experience with online ACLS renewal? I'm catching holy grief from my staff because I found out that many of their renewals are done online and I am not authorized to reimburse them. Our hospital provides and pays for in-house cer...

9. Things you'd like the ER to Know

   cvicugirl replied to CraigB-RN's topic in MICU

   Niiiice. I hope you kept their tech until the postmortem care was complete!

10. Pulling Sheaths on a Cardiac Stepdown

    cvicugirl replied to ItalianRN's topic in CCU

    :yeahthat:I'd also recommend training everyone on sheath pulls, not just a few. Training should include basic A & P review, technique, and troubleshooting (what to do when things go badly.) Ideally, the RN should have several pulls under his/her...

11. Advice for Student Nurse in the ICU

    cvicugirl replied to pogi's topic in CCU

    Hang in there. It is very common to go home emotionally and physically exhausted, especially with this stuff being so new. Do you hear bells and alarms when you are in bed trying to go asleep? We've all been there. As long as you know WHY do are ...

12. Do you have a unit-based pharmacist?

    cvicugirl replied to labcat01's topic in MICU

    I had to make sure I read that correctly...your hospital has no pharmacy on the night shift? wow. I wouldn't hesitate calling the on-call Rx for new orders. Perhaps if they get bugged enough, they'd give you some coverage.

13. Do you have a unit-based pharmacist?

    cvicugirl replied to labcat01's topic in MICU

    We had so many problems with tardy/missing meds and anesthesiologist complaints (Rx policy won't let them mix their own meds for routine cases) we now have a satellite pharmacy located between (and within shouting distance:icon_hug:) of the CV & ...

14. Orientation-Staffing

    cvicugirl replied to mjscan_07's topic in MICU

    It is irresponsible the way your unit is staffed right now--eventually nurse retention and patient care will suffer. While it might seem fine if the MS nurse is given the easy patients, who has your back? Do your MS RNs have ACLS? Is your mgr also...

15. Vent: CV pt that should have gone back to OR (long)

    cvicugirl replied to jbp0529's topic in MICU

    Plavix too. I'm sure that's why they didn't want to take the dude back, they figured you can't sew up oozy coagulopathy. What did his initial post-op chest film look like? I'd argue that it might be worth the re-op just to remove the big blob of g...