StayLost BSN, RN

CVICU, CCU, Heart Transplant

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About StayLost

StayLost has 5 years experience as a BSN, RN and specializes in CVICU, CCU, Heart Transplant.


Latest Activity

  1. StayLost

    Phasing out CNS

    I just stumbled upon this post. As a nurse manager in CT surgery, I have worked with the most amazing group of Clinical Nurse Specialists. I can speak for the ICU-- this is such an important role. Healthcare keeps stretching and divesting in Nurse E...
  2. StayLost

    analgesia before cardioversion

    The gold standard for Cardioversion is Propofol Rapid IVP right before shock is delivered. There are times when a patient is symptomatic and can not tolerate the hypotensive effects of proposal, which we would give fentanyl and versed. And then ther...
  3. StayLost

    ICU burnout?

    I work in New York City. It's the norm here for ER nurses to oversee 16 or more patients.
  4. StayLost

    DDAVP administration with fresh hearts

    We routinely use Amicar as well. If there are problems with bleeding, it's not uncommon for our patients to receive DDAVP in the OR.
  5. StayLost

    Art line question

    It would be impossible to answer this questions without being there. Was there a proper waveform with diacritic notch? Were you able to draw back any blood? What was the difference between the systolic and diastolic - a dampened waveform will often...
  6. StayLost

    PA catheter help/question

    The patient does not need to be flat for zeroing lines- in fact, the lines don't even need to be connected to the patient to be zero'd. We lay patients flat when we zero so that we can get the most accurate numbers, specifically the CVP. The 'flat a...
  7. StayLost

    ICU RN Report- How does your unit do it?

    YES! IMO, this is how an experienced nurse gives report- don't need to know how long the bypass/XClamp time was for a patient going to the floor. If at any time I need to know about the patient's grafts (which has never ever happened) I can look th...
  8. StayLost

    Help re: PA catheter care

    Your patient does not need to be flat when changing the pressure lines to a swan What I usually do is kink the PA and CVP before inserting the new line, then draw back any possible air from the new stopcock. There are times when I use kelly clamps/he...
  9. StayLost

    drips during a code

    I have worked with cardiologist that will run dopamine wide oven during a code, especially with asystole.
  10. StayLost

    Swm rn seek ecmo rn. M/f no pref

    At my current hospital we do not get any compensation when caring for ECMO patients. In the past I worked for a hospital that would pay me an additional $8.00/hr for VAD/VA ECMO patients. Should an ECMO patient be 2:1 or 1:1 ? With any device, th...
  11. StayLost

    CPR in Prone Position

    At this point it's time to consider either VV ECMO or discuss withdrawing. I would not attempt CPR while a patient is prone.
  12. StayLost

    Afterload and BP...So Confused!!

    As a cardiac nurse, let me take a stab: Afterload is the pressure that the heart must pump against. SVR (System Vascular Resistance) calculated value we use to evaluate afterload. We calculate the SVR using the Cardiac Output, Cardiac Index, CVP, Ar...
  13. StayLost

    Maximum number of IV meds & lines

    TPN always needs it's own dedicated port Bicard should be run though it's own dedicated like, as its incompatible with virtually every med.
  14. StayLost

    What's CVICU like, really?

    CT patients can go to sh** on you faster than any patient - extubated and sitting up one 1 minute & bleeding with a MAP in the 40's the next. I had a patient completely exsanguinate in less than 10 second through the chest tubes, with blood overf...
  15. I much rather get paid less and have a better work environment. I was just talking about this last night with a coworker. My last job was amazing- New equipment, higher quality supplies, more staff, fast turn around with labs and medications from ph...