InArduisFidelis

InArduisFidelis has 4 years experience and specializes in Med/Surg, StepDown, Tele, ICU.

Latest Activity

1. VA RN Levels

   InArduisFidelis replied to OUxPhys's topic in Government

   Surely in your 3+ years of asking questions about the VA on here you have seen this, but I will humor your question. Steps are the incremental increases in pay that you receive based on your time and experience with the VA. Nurse 1 is the pay band th...

2. Normal Saline q24 orders

   InArduisFidelis replied to neuron's topic in Student Assist

   Was this a continuous feeding/IV infusion? You might want to look closer at the orders. I have a feeling you are missing something. Just be aware that "q 24 hours" is not a complete order. I see this by itself and I start thinking "Am I supposed to ...

3. First job - step down or CICU

   InArduisFidelis replied to Jdrodr's topic in Cardiac

   So just out of curiosity, have you had an ICU or stepdown experience during nursing school? Did you do a senior practicum or capstone in either of those specialties? If not, I would be doing some research on what the new grad programs at those respec...

4. Moving to Portland area

   InArduisFidelis replied to Bittybabyrn75's topic in Oregon

   Can't comment on NICU, lactation nursing, or whether a travel contract is a good place for you to start, but with 9 years experience you should have no problem pulling $75k in base pay working in-patient. Hourly rates at most hospitals in the metro a...

5. Portland Hospitals

   InArduisFidelis replied to nurseman81's topic in Oregon

   Do you have a specialty in mind? If you want to work at a big academic medical center look at OHSU, but beware they in the middle of bargaining a new nursing contract and things are little messy right now. OHSU is on top of a hill above the city and ...

6. IV Push med– do you always have to pull back for blood return?

   InArduisFidelis replied to missjune's topic in Medications

   I've seen and used plenty of good PIVs that you can't draw blood back through. Even with tensioning the hub, proximal tourniquet, etc. I've even utilized an ultrasound to visualize these catheters in the vein and you can see them perfectly in place a...

7. Hurricane Matthew Updates

   InArduisFidelis replied to tnbutterfly - Mary's topic in COVID

   Thinking of all my nursing sisters and brothers in the SE today. Also anyone that is on deck for relief work. Everyone stay safe over the next few days!

8. Personal Disaster Relief Packing List

   InArduisFidelis replied to InArduisFidelis's topic in COVID

   Thanks for all the good packing suggestions! AceOfHearts you should check out the Medical Reserve Corps. It will familiarize you will disaster relief in your own community, and the networking opportunities are excellent for meeting people in your com...

9. Difference between pulse and HR

   InArduisFidelis replied to romantic's topic in CCU

   Pulse oximetry can be notoriously inaccurate, especially with Afib. I would trust the ECG rate over pulse oximetry. That said being said, a couple pointers with discrepancies: 1) Make sure that the monitor lead that your HR is being monitored off of...

10. Difference between pulse and HR

    InArduisFidelis replied to romantic's topic in CCU

    I am assuming HR in this case means that number of QRS complexes detected on the ECG. When it comes to pulse are you seeing a difference in an auscultated pulse, palpated pulse, or what is picked up on a pulse oximeter?

11. Personal Disaster Relief Packing List

    InArduisFidelis posted a topic in COVID

    I just joined a volunteer group that provides medical relief during disasters. We would primarily be serving under FEMA and HHS, and supplementing acute care needs during national emergencies. Max deployments would be ~2 weeks, when we would be rotat...

12. Confusion over the 3 checks

    InArduisFidelis replied to hazeyraine's topic in Medications

    Maybe try to think about it in terms of the "5 Rights" of medication administration. Right Drug, Right Dose, Right Route, Right Time, Right Patient. I think in the scenario you are describing you are missing the opportunity to verify the MAR/drug/dos...

13. RRT vs ICU transfer

    InArduisFidelis replied to kflavi2's topic in Critical

    nurs1ng's question about what kind of unit you work on is kind of key here. Nationally there is too much variability between what ICU level care means at different hospitals. Was this a medsurg floor? I am assuming he was at least on Tele since you n...

14. New grad at VA?

    InArduisFidelis replied to isharRN's topic in Government

    Yes, at my facility they do. But every VA hospital is a little different, and every department inside a VA hospital is run a little different from other departments.

15. ACLS

    InArduisFidelis replied to roni42286's topic in General Students

    Teach yourself basic rhythm analysis if you don't have those skills already. Buy the ACLS Provider Manual. Read the manual. Study all the algorithms. Memorize the key drugs and doses for each algorithm. Take a prep class if they are available.