volunteerpioneer

volunteerpioneer

CT ICU, Med Surg

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About volunteerpioneer

volunteerpioneer specializes in CT ICU, Med Surg.


Latest Activity

  1. CCRN

    It's kind of pricey but the DVDs from Gasparis-Vonfrolio. I've read many of the previous threads on here and it comes up over and over again-- finally sucked it up and purchased it- VERY helpful. I can't sit down and read a textbook for hours, so the...
  2. Umm...again, how many weeks of orientation?

    2 weeks is definitely not enough! We just got a veteran tele RN new to our CT ICU-- they put her on the same training program as everyone else (new grads, and new to ICU RNS): 2 weeks pre-class, 4 weeks in-class, and 4 weeks post-class training. At t...
  3. How did you break into CTICU?

    Where do you live? I live in Los Angeles, here if you apply to one government hospital, it sends out your resume to all-- but it is a slooooooow process. I kept following up with the recruiter and one of the positions that opened up was CT ICU. The t...
  4. Amiodarone

    I work in a CT ICU and when a pt converts into A-fib, usually 2nd or 3rd post op day, it's almost standard that the doc's write an order for a bolus of 150mg/min over 30 min followed by 1mg/min drip. I've seen a couple patients convert back to NSR ri...
  5. Admitting an open chest pt

    Everyone thanks for the input. Perhaps I jinxed myself because at yesterday's shift I got my first open chest-patient. start of shift the surgeons did a wash out at bedside and decided to keep the chest open since they were planning to do it again th...
  6. Admitting an open chest pt

    I am a newbie in the CT-ICU and part of my orientation is admitting all the fresh hearts. Yesterday, the case scheduled was CABG x3; but ended up needing an AVR and IABP in OR. and when receiving report they stated he was going to have an open chest....
  7. proper orientation for CTICU

    Sorry for the confusion, 'fresh heart' is what we call a patient just received from the OR right after cardiac surgery.
  8. proper orientation for CTICU

    I completely agree with the comment that it is the quality of the training, not the quantity. Also, with sugarmama's comment to take as many open hearts as possible. I am a new grad who was hired straight into CTICU, and have so far been training one...
  9. LAC+USC interview new grad RN

    No i was hired July, cleared August then waited.. and waited.. and waited.. finally 'started' mid November (2 weeks orientation, no floor), started my preceptorship on the Med Surg floor 2nd week of December, on my own now.. waiting for ICU preceptor...
  10. LAC+USC interview new grad RN

    It's us they are referring to. From my understanding they are bringing in the new hires in groups; there was a Sept group (~20), Oct group (~#?), a Nov group (this was my group, 12 of us), Dec group (~20), and now I'm guessing this is the next group...
  11. LAC+USC interview new grad RN

    Hey everyone sorry I've been MIA for so long, I had to work 2 4day weeks! and this week, I started on my own (after 6 weeks c a preceptor) so I'm a little stressed. They said there's another big group of new grads entering the floor soon, so I hope I...
  12. LAC+USC interview new grad RN

    Hi daisyrock, I am begining my training in one of the MS units, and there are some nurses who do an 8hr shift (7-330p), but most do 12. From my understanding the ones who do 8 hrs choose to. I did not have to sign any contract. Perhaps I am in what t...
  13. LAC+USC interview new grad RN

    Sorry for the late replies. I've been really tired after orientation even though it's technically only 8 hrs. I found out that didactic is only actually 1 week, so I will be continuing orientation on the floor next week (for my 2nd week) and will be ...
  14. LAC+USC interview new grad RN

    I'm in ct icu, but haven't beem on the floor at all. We do a 2 week didactic orientation -- I'm actually here right now on break. After this they said we are 3 mos on MS, then ICU
  15. LAC+USC interview new grad RN

    Ya the luncheon is informal and is for ppl who already started. My friend didn't get a start date and called, and they told her she stats dec 1. While on orientation I ran into someone who interviewed the same day as me, july 28, and he had already b...