sister s

Latest Activity

1. inotrope via syringe driver or pump?

   sister s posted a topic in MICU

   We currently use a syringe driver when we infuse noradrenaline/levophed, but have had some incidents when we swap syringes with significant drops in BP, even when we have a second infusion ready to go. On some occasions nurses have said that they ha...

2. Should CVVHD be 1:1

   sister s replied to kristenallene40's topic in Critical

   Australia

3. death of canadian icu nurses?

   sister s replied to sister s's topic in MICU

   Thank you. It's interesting to see how the truth gets stretched.

4. death of canadian icu nurses?

   sister s posted a topic in MICU

   One of the nurses on our unit (in Australia) is from Canada. She claims that "about 14 Canadian ICU nurses died during the SARS epidemic". Can anyone clarify this for me?

5. so much hypokalaemia?

   sister s posted a topic in MICU

   G'day all. Can anyone tell me why so many ICU patients need potassium infusions going? Is the missing potassium being used, or stored in the cells? Thanks for any help :paw:

6. Eating at the nurses' station

   sister s replied to nursebrandie28's topic in General Nursing

   Yep - I work in ER too. On night shifts everyone brings a plate and we have snacks through the night. Sanitary? You should see our tea room. What difference does it make if you eat a chip on the floor or in the tea room? You still wash your hand...

7. What is the diff. btwn DKA and HHNS??

   sister s replied to kirsteen0926's topic in General Nursing

   Yeah, I'm lost on this one too. I get that there's way more sugar in the blood in HHNS, but why doesn't the body use insulin to store that excess sugar, and if the reason is that the body is resistant to insulin, then why doesn't the body feel low on...

8. New ICU RN....former ER Nurse...Loving it!!...LONG

   sister s replied to RNBSNMe's topic in MICU

   Absolutely. I know exactly what you mean!

9. New ICU RN....former ER Nurse...Loving it!!...LONG

   sister s replied to RNBSNMe's topic in MICU

   Unreal! Must be the same the whole world over. In a way I'm glad it's not just here in Australia

10. New ICU RN....former ER Nurse...Loving it!!...LONG

    sister s replied to RNBSNMe's topic in MICU

    Yes, I hear you! I've just left ICU to work in ED for some extra experience - to see the other shoe type of thing. I've been here a month now and I'm finding it very hard to appreciate. There's a definite clique, almost verging on outright rudenes...

11. Defining ARDS?

    sister s posted a topic in MICU

    I'm trying to come to grips with understanding the difference between ALI and ARDS. All of my resources state that the difference is: ALI has a specific definition: a PaO2/FiO2 ratio of less than 300 (i.e. if the patient is on 30% O2, the PaO2 is l...

12. How often should you empty a catheter bag?

    sister s posted a topic in General Nursing

    Our ward protocol says that IDC bags should be emptied at the end of each shift. One of my colleagues says that she was taught at uni' only to empty the bags when necessary because opening a bag to empty it is creating an unnecessary portal of entry...

13. ICU nurse to pt ratio "norm" on your unit?

    sister s replied to Natef26's topic in MICU

    Yep - so if the patient is ventilated they have 1:1 nurse. It's a 5 bed ICU ward (we don't separate surgical/medical etc, and there's a nursing float for the ward to fetch and help with stuff and answer met calls. Other than the Intensivist, physio...

14. ICU nurse to pt ratio "norm" on your unit?

    sister s replied to Natef26's topic in General Nursing

    Yep - so if the patient is ventilated they have 1:1 nurse. It's a 5 bed ICU ward (we don't separate surgical/medical etc, and there's a nursing float for the ward to fetch and help with stuff and answer met calls. Other than the Intensivist, physio...

15. ICU nurse to pt ratio "norm" on your unit?

    sister s replied to Natef26's topic in General Nursing

    In Australia if a patient is on invasive ventilation then they have 1:1 - like the UK I think.