JenHRN

JenHRN has 3 years experience.

Latest Activity

1. When to call a code

   JenHRN replied to JenHRN's topic in General Nursing

   So this is the exact dilemma I'm referring to. Are you checking a pulse during these episodes? Because if it's longer than 10 seconds without a pulse, aren't we doing our patient a disservice by not initiating compressions? But I get it, in those sit...

2. When to call a code

   JenHRN replied to JenHRN's topic in General Nursing

   Again, these responses are very helpful. Thanks! You all are confirming everything I've been thinking.

3. When to call a code

   JenHRN replied to JenHRN's topic in General Nursing

   Both were witnessed. The second patient literally collapsed in my arms. But there was a small delay getting her safely to the ground. Good thing she was small!

4. When to call a code

   JenHRN replied to JenHRN's topic in General Nursing

   Ok thanks. This feedback is helpful. I think the primary reason I'm asking this is because in both situations, the general response I got from more experienced staff was that the code was unnecessary.. But there's no way in those initial seconds to d...

5. When to call a code

   JenHRN posted a topic in General Nursing

   On two occasions I've had my patient lose pulse during a syncopal episode. With the first patient, three nurses could not find a pulse for 10ish seconds and compressions were initiated. The pt recovered after 1-2 minutes of CPR. The doctor felt confi...

6. Hyperkalemia a ticking time bomb?

   JenHRN replied to JenHRN's topic in CCU

   The doc on call that night ended up ordering Kayexalate. It had not been ordered prior.

7. Hyperkalemia a ticking time bomb?

   JenHRN replied to JenHRN's topic in CCU

   This shift we happened to not have a charge nurse scheduled. We're a small hospital in a rural part of the state, so that happens occasionally. My only supervisor on premise was the house supervisor. I asked him face-to-face probably a half dozen tim...

8. ICU advice needed please!

   JenHRN replied to LittleMissVixen410's topic in MICU

   What sort of ICU will you be working in? That makes a huge difference on what you will be frequently dealing with. I work in a small hospital on weekends only... so the main diagnoses I see are COPD exacerbation, DKA, overdose, sepsis, and various ca...

9. Hyperkalemia a ticking time bomb?

   JenHRN replied to JenHRN's topic in CCU

   Acute renal failure, not a dialysis patient. I asked my director if I was permitted to crack the crash cart in this situation, and she said "It's probably best that you didn't." They figured out the sodium bicarb and why I couldn't pull it out of the...

10. How is your ICU staffing done?

    JenHRN replied to cmp424's topic in MICU

    I work in a 10 bed ICU in a rural hospital, and we currently take 2-3 patients. Three is definitely exhausting and can be very unsafe depending on acuity. Our director just had it approved to drop our max ratio down to 2:1. There were too many mistak...

11. Clots related to fast afib

    JenHRN replied to maloneys's topic in CCU

    I would also be concerned that rapid afib would mask the signs of a post-op bleed. How are you going to know if the pt is bleeding internally when they are already tachy and hypotensive :/ The cardiologists I work with would have definitely addressed...

12. Hyperkalemia a ticking time bomb?

    JenHRN posted a topic in CCU

    I have been a critical care nurse for less than a year, so I am looking for advice from nurses who have more experience with this situation. I admitted a patient with a potassium of 6.4, BP 200/100, EKG with peaked T waves and occasional PVCs, and c...