Does your unit do it's own CRRT?

Specialties MICU

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Specializes in Critical Care.

hey all,

the sicu i work in is considering learning to do our own crrt. currently, a micu nurse comes over and does it for us so we still have a two patient assignment... if we start doing our own crrt the crrt patients will be 1:1. for those of you that do your own crrt what are the pros and cons?

thanks for your feedback!:heartbeat

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Specializes in ICU.

I work in a general ICU. we take care of every critically ill patients(med/surg/neuro/etc) in our hospital (except post CABG). we do our own crrt and yes it should be 1:1 ratio. I love doing it, aside from the fact that it is fun, i only have to take 1 patient. lol.

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Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

Yes we do.

If needed, such as the patient is also on a IABP, we get two nurses. Sometimes an LVN from telemetry works with us. Sometimees a CNA who is used to vents and such.

CRRT and drips only are 1:1

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Specializes in ICU.

We also do it, and i love it. I enjoy doing CRRT...it keeps you busy, and the pt is usually interesting as well. In Canada though, we are always 1:1. Once a week we take turns having 2 pt's that are less sick. Sometime we run Highflow Prisma which requires 2 nurses. One for the machine and 1 for the nurse. In my opinion, its just easier to to crrt yourself, and not have to bother another nurse, or the dialysis unit to come set up.

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Specializes in ICU/PACU.

In the units I've worked, the nurses do their own crrt only if they've been certified or have taken a special class for it. Most like it, b/c it's a 1:1 and it keeps you busy all day.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
In the units I've worked, the nurses do their own crrt only if they've been certified or have taken a special class for it. Most like it, b/c it's a 1:1 and it keeps you busy all day.

We do our own CRRT, from package to plate. No HD nurse input. I've heard of units where the HD nurses set up the system and if it poops out the treatment is discontinued until the HD nurses can set it up again.

Not so here. We do the set-up and trouble shoot all problems.

I like it, frankly.

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Specializes in Transplant/Surgical ICU.

We manage our CRRT machines, but the dialysis nurse sets it up and changes the filter if it clots. Pros: you can manage metabolic acidosis/alkalosis changes using the machine. It gets you moving. Cons: can't think of any! Actually, the prisma's alarm when it senses a slight change in fluid weight. So, if you (or pt family) bumps it even slightly, it starts beeping.We also staff 1:1 if a pt is on CRRT, and they are usually on 1 or more pressors.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

We also do our own, and patients are a 1:1. Only staff that have completed the CRRT training/in house certification can do it, though. After class training is completed, staff have to orient with another experienced

RN for 2 shifts worth of CRRT to be sure they are competent. Lengthy process, but you are paid a bit more if you go thru it all (a few cents on the dollar, but it all adds up and is better than nadda!).

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Specializes in ICU.
I work in a general ICU. we take care of every critically ill patients(med/surg/neuro/etc) in our hospital (except post CABG). we do our own crrt and yes it should be 1:1 ratio. I love doing it, aside from the fact that it is fun, i only have to take 1 patient. lol.

I need to work where you all work. On unit where I work, it is supposed to be 1:1 if pt is on CRRT. It hardly works out that way. We set up our own machines and troubleshoot ourselves. We operate the Prisma and PrismaFlex machines.

The benefits/pros: As a new grad, you gain a very marketable nursing skill. Rarely are my pts only on CRRT. Usually there are numberous gtts involved so you also become skilled at titrating many different pressors. You will sharpen your hemodynamic assessment skills and your time management skills.

The cons: Rarely are my pts only on CRRT, there re numberous gtts involved/titrating pressors and I usually have another pt.

I have found that operating the CRRT machine and caring for those pts helped me become more marketable; all around more desireable employee.

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Specializes in SICU.

We do our own CRRT from setup on. It can be frustrating at times, but I generally love it. We had a 4 hour class so we could learn all the pathophys and hemodynamics involved with renal failure and the ICU and when CRRT should be used,etc. It's a 1:1 assignment, even if they have other devices. I've had patients on CRRT, have a heartmate II LVAD, and a centrimag RVAD.

Definitely keeps you busy, but I enjoy it.

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Specializes in ICU.

we will mostly do CRRT 1:1 but there have definitely been times I've had a CRRT patient and another patient. I've even had an LVAD Ventrassist patient and a Thoratec BIVAD patient at one time before. its not common but it does happen. what makes me angry is my unit is the only unit in the hospital that will pair a CVVH patient and another patient. they do it now cause they know it can be done, which sucks.

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Specializes in ICU.

AAhh the days of being singled with CRRT. That is the IDEAL scenario, but these days staffing is so bad. If the patient is a 'stable' CRRT patient, we get 2 patients. LOL

And yes, we have to take a class and do yearly competencies for the certification.

It's cool to learn and do, but it can be VERY cumbersome. It's ONE busy assignment, so be prepared.

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