squirlkeeperCCRN

squirlkeeperCCRN

11 years oncology, 8 years ICU

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About squirlkeeperCCRN

squirlkeeperCCRN has 19 years experience and specializes in 11 years oncology, 8 years ICU.


mom to the best 3 kids in the world!

Latest Activity

  1. does anyone use swans anymore?

    thanks everyone! I have passed the test once (and think I am capable...come he** or high water). I too agree that Laura Gasparis is the way to go...good luck to you (and me).
  2. does anyone use swans anymore?

    Call me crazy, but I have decided to retest rather than get ceu's to re-up my ccrn certification. I did ceu's the first time I renewed, but feel like studying and retesting will give me the knowledge that I want. I'm nervous about hemos however as ...
  3. Negotiating visiting hours

    Optimus, LOL! It does make it really interesting when the family calling the shots has no idea what they are talking about...very frustrating to take care of these patients.
  4. Rapid Response Team and Families

    I stopped doing resource when our facility implemented the RRT that families could summon. I think it is poor use of resources. I laugh when these patients are then transferred to the unit because they needed lasix and bipap...soon enough the same f...
  5. part time in ICU?

    I was hired for part time and have worked part time for about 8 years now. I think previous experience might make the difference though (sounds like you have that) so think it's worth a try. We actually have many part timers that work in my unit.
  6. Pressors and Sepsis

    Our unit has developed a protocol for patients with sepsis. If they meet certain criteria the protocol is instituted. We rarely use Swans anymore, but use the sepsis protocol often. It is based on CVP, blood pressure and is complete with lots of bol...
  7. Being on the Code team freaks me out

    Chica, Going from Oncology focus being on comfort most of the time, to ICU life saving no matter what mentality is very anxiety producing. I know because I took the same route that you did (Oncology for 12 years, ICU for almost 8). I remember the f...
  8. Negotiating visiting hours

    I just found this site a few days ago, and was thinking of posting this very topic after caring for a patient with the family from he**. We have open visiting in our unit and when we put a 12 bed addition onto it, built in beds for families to spend...
  9. Consent for albumin?

    RUNurse, good point, reguarding Hespan. Our sugeons like Hespan, our Pulmonologists like albumin with lasix chaser. No consent needed for either.
  10. trying to decide between Neuro ICU and general med/surg ICU

    I get the best of both worlds and we have a 30 bed mixed unit...little bit of everything. Have no fear neuro patients will give you everything.
  11. Likes and dislikes...

    I work in a general ICU (not neuro specific) but get plenty of heads and do enjoy taking care of them. I think the inconsistency in neuro patients is stimulating. Just when you think you know what they are doing...you do another exam and things hav...
  12. Med/Surg to ICU

    I agree that going from one's comfort zone to a new, overwhelming, very busy ICU can be very un-nerving. I think new critical care nurses need to allow themselves a year before they get critical of themselves or question the move they made. Take ev...
  13. Took care of pt who tested positve for c-diff

    for many years when I started nursing we didn't wear gloves if it wasn't obviously bloody...that was universal precautions. In this day and age we wear gloves to just give back rubs, pull a pt. up in bed or anything...I would say with your 3 pairs o...
  14. Is there form on how to give shift report in ICU ?

    you are so right!!!! then the real report begins after you have answered whether or not you will be back in the morning. I like the head to toe method as well (due to the fact that we no longer have flowsheets or anything written for that matter)...
  15. What nursing "invention" would make you famous?

    funny this is I don't think it's that far out...just around the corner! I think "heely's" for nurses with built in room deoderizers and mini-spray stations would come in handy after the day crew passes out suppositories at 6pm (just before they go of...