Don't beat yourself up. Every job in nursing takes organizing your brain, it's not just in the nicu. It's also very frustrating when other nurses treat newbies that way. Try writing out your report near the end of your shift so you won't forget anyth...
I'm curious to how other nicus access their central lines. Do you use sterile technique with hat, mask and sterile gloves? Do you clean the port with betadine and then access? What is your infection rate?
hcox1975 replied to Crafty Fraggle's topic in NICU
We do not do kangaroo care with touch me nots. We use these things called dandle Roos. They are awesome because the swaddle the babies and the also will position the arms so they can't self extubate. I have found that oscillator babies have to be re-...
hcox1975 replied to raebabelvn's topic in Uniform/Gear
Here is what I have concluded in my scrub quest. I am a petite (5'2) and weight is around 120. I am shapely with large thighs and butt. I also am narrow in the shoulders and some of the tops swallow me there. Cherokee are ok, they run big though an...
I too wouldn't take the harder patients when I first started. If you can choose your assignment, I would listen to report and try to choose a patient that you were comfortable with. I also would try to go back to the same assignment if possible becau...
hcox1975 replied to procrastin8r-RN's topic in General Nursing
I too hate to be interupted but this comes with nursing. Take it as a learning experience. Being interupted will prepare you for what is to come. It takes time to establish your way of doing things. Everyone gets stressed during orientation.
Personally, if I knew where I was delivering my baby didn't have a nursery, I wouldn't have my baby there. I have never even heard of this until I read this post. This doesn't sound safe.
You also have to be aware of drug interactions, correct medication orders, and lab work. I work at a teaching hospital and sometimes the doctors aren't familiar with what is needed for the patients. Once you are familiar with the type of patients you...
hcox1975 replied to Linda K. Foster's topic in Educators
The hospital I work at, you can wear whatever color you want. I personally don't like the cartoon prints but that just me. I do like the idea of color coding. Or name tags with your title in large print. All of our doctors wear white coats so we are...
I think these strong ladies will make wonderful nurses. They will be able to have compassion for the harder to deal with patients. Kudos to these women and I pray that they will continue to have productive and happy lives.
hcox1975 replied to Tiki_Torch's topic in Psychiatric
This whole story about this child breaks my heart. There is no way possible that a child can be diagnosed with bipolar at 2 years old.I am not a psych nurse but this topic really upset me, so I had to get on my soap box. As a mother of five and someo...
I like to know why we do certain things too, and there are people on your unit you will learn to trust. I also carry post it notes in my pocket and write things down to look up later.