gal220RN BSN, RN

gal220RN is a BSN, RN and specializes in peds critical care, peds GI, peds ED.

Latest Activity

1. Ethics in the cardiac PICU- are we doing the right thing?

   gal220RN posted a topic in PICU

   I have had some questions burning in my mind over the past few months and would love some input from my PICU friends. Since I changed jobs to a PICU with a large cardiac population, I have seen some children who have broken my heart and challenged m...

2. New to the PICU world...so many ?'s!!!

   gal220RN replied to LittleWing21's topic in PICU

   You are obviously thinking seriously about this transition and I congratulate you on that. Best wishes as you enter the PICU world. I will give you a few of my personal thoughts on your questions: 1. In a general PICU, respiratory issues are some ...

3. Duke question?......

   gal220RN replied to adorblepuppy's topic in North Carolina

   No, they hire new grads. But one question, why Duke? There are other great hospitals in the area. Check them all out before you make up your mind.

4. Durham area - recommendations on where to live?

   gal220RN replied to studentmom2007's topic in North Carolina

   We live on the Durham/Orange County boarder- but technically in Durham Co. The schools are a problem, I am sad to say. However, Chapel Hill is much more expensive, so you will get less house or apartment for the money. There are some great neighbo...

5. salaries for duke and UNC hospitals

   gal220RN replied to jsnj2009's topic in North Carolina

   Congrats on your new profession! I am sorry to report the salary ranges for new grads are not comparable to those in NJ. When I moved from another state in the southeast to NC with over a decade of nursing experience, I was offered a base rate of...

6. Nurse Practitioners in the PICU

   gal220RN replied to PhilaBSNstudent's topic in PICU

   After many years working as a bedside nurse, I entertained the idea of going back to school for my peds critical care PNP. I have worked in units where they are utilized aggressively in patient care, with responsibilities equal to a Fellow. However...

7. physical restraint in picu

   gal220RN replied to swiss brian's topic in PICU

   Hi there! I my experience, we use both sedation/pain scores (RASS,FLACC,FACES) to assess the adequacy of our sedation/pain management. We also require any means of restraint (soft wrist, Welcome sleeves) to be discussed and reordered every 24 hours....

8. Eating at the nurses' station

   gal220RN replied to nursebrandie28's topic in General Nursing

   In 15 years of nursing (all areas from ED to critical care) I have never eaten in a break room. I don't have a problem with those that do (you all probably have a much healthier digestive tract), but I always feel I am putting an extra burden with m...

9. Blood draws/SL on kids < 5 yo

   gal220RN replied to JessicaSN's topic in Emergency

   1 Before you even touch the kids, make sure you have EVERYTHING you need in mulitples in an organized fashion on a table, blue pad, easily visable. Open you alcohol wipes - lots, flush all your lines AND MOST IMPORTANT, HAVE YOUR SECUREMENT DEVICE ...

10. Life Just Sucks Sometimes

    gal220RN replied to Thanet's topic in General Nursing

    There are no accidents in this life, I believe that. I also believe for every trial, every tear, there is a purpose- one I might never understand in this life, but it is there nevertheless. Just because we do not have answers to our struggles does...

11. Is This Ethical?

    gal220RN replied to WorriedinPA's topic in Safety

    As long as she acquired the immunizations legally according to the laws of her state, she is perfectly within her practicing rights as an RN to administer them. She should have notified dad of the injections for appropriate monitoring and interventi...

12. Code Status: When Should We Talk About It!

    gal220RN replied to klg315's topic in General Nursing

    "Although it is not a nurse's place to discuss prognosis with the families prior to the physicians doing so, it is my belief that DNR orders have many implications for nursing practice on an ethical level." First, let me say how impressed I am with y...

13. How much pain medication is "too much pain medication"?

    gal220RN replied to Phillygryl's topic in General Nursing

    It sounds like an appropriate dosage of Tylenol, but written in a dangerous way that could be misunderstood. She should have either a scheduled dosage or prn, but not both. Ativan is purely for anxiety. You are right to consider her liver function...

14. Is it me, or...

    gal220RN replied to ThisOneGotLucky's topic in North Carolina

    You will probably have to go to the RTP area and look at Duke or UNC. Both are good programs. Do you want to work in a hospital or outpatient?

15. Mid-Shift Shower

    gal220RN replied to NurseAlwaysNForever's topic in General Nursing

    That story made me smile! Sometimes no matter what you do, you just can't win.:chuckle