ICUenthusiast

ICUenthusiast specializes in ICU.

Latest Activity

1. "Forced Out"

   ICUenthusiast replied to ICUenthusiast's topic in Career Support

   Yes, I'd definitely prefer a different facility altogether, as such I won't stop trying/applying until I can get out. The chance of winning my case is very high, disgustingly so. I have references from within the facility, individuals that worked wit...

2. "Forced Out"

   ICUenthusiast posted a topic in Career Support

   Long story short, I was forced out of my position (resign or be terminated) several months ago. When asked why I was being asked to resign, my response was, "You're a great nurse, but we can't have you at our facility for various reasons." I chose te...

3. Disillusioned and Bullied

   ICUenthusiast replied to Traum-a-Rama's topic in New Nurse

   It's a right-to-work state, but is there a union involved enough to have had union contracts? Some hospitals in right-to-work states are union shops or however you phrase it and they will represent you if this is the case. I am very sorry this hap...

4. Saline flush without a physician order?

   ICUenthusiast replied to stephenfnielsen's topic in General Nursing

   What's your facilities protocol say? Some even allow you to order heparin flush per protocol for individuals with central lines to prevent clogging provided they don't have HIT or something. I know also I've seen one where you are supposed to flush a...

5. Loan Repayment Programs

   ICUenthusiast replied to Mudminkk's topic in General Nursing

   Criteria is actually being full time (you cannot have more than x number of vacation weeks either that you use), DSH, non-profit or public hospital. Debt to salary ratio iirc is 40%? And the higher the ratio the more likely you will be chosen. If you...

6. blood and levophed in same line?

   ICUenthusiast replied to link51411's topic in MICU

   Hm.. that makes me wonder, we don't see a lot of people that have a decent chance of coding w/o a central already in place, but I have asked about using IO because of the codes you get where they have blown/no/bad access. I guess our policy only allo...

7. Within scope of practice to insert a PICC line?

   ICUenthusiast replied to klone's topic in Infusion

   Most RN's can get training to do a peripheral IV insert w/ ultrasound guidance on very hard sticks. A PICC is similar, but with bigger cuts and more measuring.. maybe with a suture depending on the PICC and how you anchor them in your policy In fact,...

8. I'm ALWAYS tired *sigh*

   ICUenthusiast replied to nurse678's topic in General Nursing

   Late reply but, yes. Provigil has been amazing for me. I only take it the days I work as to not build too much of a tolerance to it (plus I don't need alertness if I'm at home doing laundry for example). I had tried ritalin before that, and it made m...

9. Opinions on pausing drips before blood draw?

   ICUenthusiast replied to IheartICUnursing's topic in MICU

   Our policy is to stop all drips afaik. An ABG off the a. line, you don't need to stop. I'm not so sure about labs off the a. line itself though. Specific for heparin, we are supposed to draw off an opposite limb after having the drip off for x amt of...

10. questioning trauma doc's choice

    ICUenthusiast replied to nursingmeatball's topic in MICU

    That sucks. I frequently have a hard time swallowing some of the choices doctors go with. Even if it seems inevitable that the patient won't survive or will have care withdrawn, it feels like they start down this path before the family is ready to wh...

11. a new grad's gripes

    ICUenthusiast replied to LoveActually's topic in MICU

    Generally, I have a better time sedating with precedex.. I've had more issues with BP and propofol. And at least at my hospital, the pharmacist says they can get the precedex cheaper to the pt than propofol. I'm not quite sure why this is the case, b...

12. "Don't be nice to her"

    ICUenthusiast replied to NurseBatzy's topic in MICU

    For that matter, where are the superiors in all of this? Sometimes units with a history of high turn over rate don't improve because the higher-ups are part of the problem. What about a union?? Do you have one at that hospital? You could also report ...

13. I'm ALWAYS tired *sigh*

    ICUenthusiast replied to nurse678's topic in General Nursing

    I sympathize. I have a sleep disorder myself, so I take a particular interest in such things.. what you may have is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shift_work_sleep_disorder .. it is definitely worth getting a sleep study done if your insurance covers i...

14. a new grad's gripes

    ICUenthusiast replied to LoveActually's topic in MICU

    I think getting a pt from ER is generally never the best experience, but you learn to live with it cause it really really seems it doesn't get better regardless of what hospital you're at. (If someone can tell me all their admits from ER come up with...

15. Propofol and drug overdose

    ICUenthusiast replied to ICUenthusiast's topic in MICU

    Thanks for the input! I was able to talk to someone last night with expertise in the area and they said its the choice drug mainly because of its short half-life. It proved helpful when trying to do some spontaneous breathing trials especially... Alt...