PrairieRN

PrairieRN has 19 years experience.

Latest Activity

1. Critical Care Nurse Residency Programs

   PrairieRN posted a topic in MICU

   I know many hospitals have CC nurse residency programs. I'm curious about the class content as well as the lenght of time the programs last. Can anyone help?

2. Inappropriate ICU admissions

   PrairieRN replied to sunnycalifRN's topic in MICU

   Welcome to critical care nursing! The MDs at my hospital tend to admit to our ICUs so the won't be bothered by the floor nurses with problems ( we have intensivists and NPs that follow all of our patients)

3. Annual Arrhythmia competency testing

   PrairieRN posted a topic in CCU

   Just curious if an arrhythmia test is a part of your institutions annual competencies? Do you think this is an appropriate competency if the patients are monitored by the RNs and not monitor techs?

4. what?...q 15 NIBPs with an art line???

   PrairieRN replied to ICUmama's topic in MICU

   Our policy is to check cuff pressures q12h when an art line is present. But we use our nursing judgement and recheck if pressor requirements go up or the waveform dampens. Doesn't seem to be fair to the pt. to do cuff pressures so frequently when an ...

5. Incorporating ECCO

   PrairieRN posted a topic in CCU

   My institution would like to incorporate ECCO into our CC orientation. Any helpful advice on how to do this?

6. Survey Fentanyl drips

   PrairieRN replied to SKYABOVEBLUE's topic in General Nursing

   My institution uses 2500mcg/250ml mix. We do not lock our drips but I work in ICU setting and the drips are considered secure do to the close monitoring.

7. Who's going to NTI 2009 in New Orleans: 5/16-5/21 ??

   PrairieRN replied to icunurse36's topic in Critical

   There are only a few food places within the conference center in New Orleans and not may places within walking distance. It was a big problem the last time the NTI was there.

8. How high have you titrated levophed?

   PrairieRN replied to racing-mom4's topic in MICU

   The highest I have ran Levophed is 250 ml/hr of quad-strength ( 32mg/250ml). I don't believe there is a "max" rate, you should titrate to effect but my experience has been is anything over 100ml/hr of regular concentration (8mg/250ml) for longer than...

9. ICU or Progressive Care

   PrairieRN replied to PrairieRN's topic in General Nursing

   Sorry! I din't mean to imply that the care was better in all ICUs, I also worked in our Progressive care unit and when I transferred to Critical Care found the focus and quality much different.

10. ICU or Progressive Care

    PrairieRN posted a topic in General Nursing

    The hospital that I work for has a Critcal Care area and a special care area. The special care is a progressive care or step-down type of unit. They take vent patients, a few drips such as sedation, dopamine, nitro, milrinone. The staffing has just b...

11. Open visitation in ICU

    PrairieRN posted a topic in General Nursing

    The hospital I work at is working on becoming a "Planetree" hosptial. A part of this includes open visitation in the ICU. This is causing a huge uproar among the staff, nurses and MDs. Anyone have experience with open visiting and/or Planetree?

12. safe harbor

    PrairieRN replied to calliesue's topic in General Nursing

    Sounds like a great way to protect yourself, wish we had that in Tenn.