PJMommy

Latest Activity

1. Ethical Issues?

   PJMommy replied to chicabochica's topic in Safety

   The parents who don't want their 15 y/o child to know about his/her terminal diagnosis. The family who wants "everything done" for the terminal patient - meaning tests, painful procedures, etc. One of my personal favorites...the doctor who wants a ...

2. How do I make the switch to nights?

   PJMommy replied to vmilty's topic in General Nursing

   I have four children so the staying awake at night thing doesn't work for me when I'm not working. I have to be awake when my family is awake. Here's what works for me -- go to bed at regular time the night before I go back to work and then set alarm...

3. Is anyone using the BIS in the ICU? Like it?

   PJMommy replied to jgeorgern4's topic in MICU

   BIS is useful when patients are also neuromuscularly paralyzed and you have absolutely no other means of assessing the level of sedation. However, you cannot rely on the BIS for sedation. In fact, trials and research have inconclusive results as to i...

4. Can you believe this ?!!?

   PJMommy replied to bluesky's topic in MICU

   IV Nicardipine works well - and as a Ca++ channel blocker, it reduces risk of vasospasm. As for beta blockers, our docs don't use them a lot on the heads because, with beta blocked, alpha is unopposed and causes vasospasm.

5. pt/nurse ratio?

   PJMommy replied to emsboss's topic in MICU

   Your employer may say you've abandoned patients if you don't show for your shift but, legally, you cannot abandon patients for whom you have not taken report. Once you've taken report, you are legally responsible for the patient until you give anothe...

6. to sedate or not to sedate...

   PJMommy replied to dfk's topic in MICU

   Well said

7. to sedate or not to sedate...

   PJMommy replied to dfk's topic in MICU

   Okay...I have to speak up. First of all, sedatives are not pain medications. Two different things. I think we all know this but the discussion has spun off to a discussion justifying sedation because of the possibility of pain. If this "body of evid...

8. to sedate or not to sedate...

   PJMommy replied to dfk's topic in MICU

   Amen.

9. Become a nurse in just 12 months!!!

   PJMommy replied to askater11's topic in Safety

   I am married with four school-age children - went through a 12-month accelerated program. Have worked in the adult ICU of a major trauma center for two years since graduation. If I had done a traditional program, I'd just be starting out as a RN -- c...

10. BIS Monitor

    PJMommy replied to sandman1914's topic in CRNA

    Can't speak from the anesthesia perspective but can weigh in from the critical care perspective.... Sometimes, particularly with head trauma, we use NMB gtt to paralyze patients. Since paralysis doesn't equal sedation, we'll often use BIS to give us ...

11. Need advice about new job... please help!

    PJMommy replied to bluesky's topic in MICU

    Does the hospital have a CNS for critical care? How about a quality improvement team? A clinical practice committee? You could give any of these types of groups a good bit of evidence and research related to the items you mention -- or just make the ...

12. watching my back

    PJMommy replied to dm22's topic in General Nursing

    Personally, I do a lot of yoga and pilates. Get a DVD if you don't want to go to a class. I like a combo of both pilates and yoga and ideally you shouldn't need any special equipment. I find both activities to be excellent for core strength and condi...

13. open visitation in icu??

    PJMommy replied to tennessee rn's topic in MICU

    I've said before and I'll say again...you cannot globally say that open visitation is good or bad. Yes, I want to be with my family when they are in the hospital. And yes, I have plenty of warm and fuzzy stories about wonderful families I've worked w...

14. ICU Nurse Personality Traits?

    PJMommy replied to UM Review RN's topic in General Nursing

    Most ICU nurses I work with are: - confident (not arrogant) - stubborn, vocal patient advocates - strong personalities who aren't afraid to have an "animated discussion" about the best plan for a patient - outspoken - detailed - ALL are TEAM players...

15. 3 Consecutive 12 Hour Shifts

    PJMommy replied to loconno2's topic in General Nursing

    Maybe you need to find a place that does self-scheduling. Or, better yet, bring it up at your current place of employment. If you Google and do a little research, you'll find it is beneficial because it increases nurse satisfaction and retention -- g...