dexm

dexm specializes in ICU, ED.

Latest Activity

1. question about prescription meds and working

   dexm replied to RobotNurse's topic in General Nursing

   I agree with Whispera about going to a family doctor. I was diagnosed with ADHD in high school and have been taking Adderall since then, and to this day I have never been treated for it by a psychiatrist. There are a lot of family practice doctors in...

2. Spinal drains in thoracoabdominal aneurysm surgery

   dexm replied to nmsumurse's topic in Critical

   Our spinal drains are placed by anesthesia or neurosurg in OR and managed by vascular surgery post-op. We also level and zero at 4th ICS midaxillary line per our protocol.

3. Lines not being sutured?

   dexm replied to JustKeepSmiling's topic in General Nursing

   I also work at a large teaching hospital and come across this occasionally. We have a doc on call on our unit, so I just page them to come suture it.

4. ICU Assessment

   dexm replied to sheika21's topic in General Nursing

   I agree with the PP, and would like to add that if you have questions, you need to ask them! Even if she is going too fast. Pull her aside and tell her she is going too fast for you to learn, and then ask the questions you need to ask. She might not ...

5. I handled this poorly. What would you do?

   dexm replied to icuRNmaggie's topic in Relations

   I don't know what I would have said to him, but I definitely would have notified my charge RN, who would have then called the police (my hospital has its own police department) and notified management.

6. First medication error... And the last.

   dexm replied to AnthoScott's topic in General Students

   This EXACT same thing happened to me when I was in my ICU internship as a new grad. All I remember reading on that vial was 50 mcg/ml…completely ignored the "2 ml vial" part. And I definitely pushed all 2 mls when the order was for 50 mcg. Thankful...

7. What nursing task do you loathe???

   dexm replied to richardgecko's topic in General Nursing

   YES!! I hate having to travel with my patient. Even if it's a quick and easy CT head (takes less than 20 min to get there and back). Don't even get me started on MRI and IR. Having to leave the unit to get anything besides food/coffee makes me want t...

8. Be honest, what pt behaviors do you find annoying?

   dexm replied to CrunchBerries's topic in General Nursing

   Intubated patients tapping on the bed rails to get your attention ...and the doc won't give you any more PRNs for sedation/pain. I. Can't.

9. Clinical Question: Continuous PCA Infusions w/ XYZ Drip

   dexm replied to CCNP-FL's topic in Critical

   What was the rate of the fentanyl?

10. IVP pain med safety

    dexm replied to Swellz's topic in Medications

    I work in the ICU, and have bags of fentanyl, versed, etc. hanging "unsecured" when a patient is on a continuous gtt for pain/sedation. The only pumps that require a key to access are the PCAs and epidurals. All other narc infusions hang on the pole ...

11. Behaviors take away from A&Ox4?

    dexm replied to CaringGerinurse525's topic in General Nursing

    If a patient is alert and able to state their name, date, where they are, and why they're at the hospital then they're A&Ox4. This is assessing their neuro status, not their mental status.

12. I.V.Albumin 25%

    dexm replied to NGYSUN's topic in Med-Surg

    I work in an ICU and we hang it via gravity and run it wide open.

13. Do you have to report a traffic citation to the BON?

    dexm replied to forgivenfaith119's topic in Texas

    From the Texas BON website: [h=1]Licensure Eligibility[/h]To check your eligibility for renewing your license, please review the following: Been convicted of a misdemeanor? Been convicted of a felony? Pled nolo contendere, no contest, or guilty? Re...

14. To Be (Monitored) or Not To Be (Monitored)

    dexm replied to dianah's topic in Cardiac

    We also do this in the ICU I work in, minus the code meds (don't get me started on that one ). All patients are hooked up to the portable monitor and VS are continuously monitored by the RN when transporting patients to a procedure off the unit or to...

15. Really not sure how to handle this...

    dexm replied to crj96's topic in New Nurse

    This right here says to me that this unit/facility doesn't value their employees. Maybe I'm "spoiled" by working in a large hospital that has a lot of resources, but I think it's ridiculous for you to have to find a replacement for your shift under t...