Anyone know of a site with Neonatal pearls?

[NICU_Nurse, BSN, RN]

Or would you care to share any that you've gleaned? I'm re-writing my little handbook that I carry with me, and I'm looking to learn new things. What little tidbits have you picked up? Do you know of a site that has these (as opposed to a book, which I don't have access to at the moment)? I tried googling but only came up with a site that had PDA programs to download, which doesn't help, because I don't have a PDA. :)

Any little formulas or tricks that you have for interpreting blood gases or calculating formulas or WHATEVER? If you're willing to share them, I'm sure we could all learn something!

How do you remember where your ETT tubes and UAC/UVC's should be placed when you're looking at X-rays? Got a tip about neonatal medications that most people don't or should know? I'm just coming up with things off of the top of my head here.

I was looking at the ICU FAQ that's out there (that one that was posted on this site?) and WISHING that we had one! There are no resources for people like us- do you realize that?

[Mimi2RN, ASN, RN]

I like your idea, we can always use a little help.

We don't place our own UAC/UVC, but we do look at xrays. From one of the neonatologists......Six is fine

Seven is heaven

Eight is great!

Other people may know that, but it was new to me.

[SheaTabRN]

Seven is heaven

Eight is great!>>>

What does this refer to about the UAC/UVC??

Thanks!

:)

Tab

[prmenrs, RN]

I believe it's thoracic vertebrae, but not sure. Like, how far the line is in?

[magRN]

Some time ago one of the nurses put together a little black book with things specific to our unit. Ya know every place does things differently. ( We keep UAC's at L-3 to 4). Some nurese have added to that book and have dividers and everything....a lot of work, and nice. You should see some of the transport nurses stuff!

[NICU_Nurse, BSN, RN]

I'll share one I just learned...how to determine what bili level requires intervention, and what level is considered exchange level for the babies.

Take the weight of the baby in kg. Multiply by 10. This is the exchange level. Divide that number in half and this is the level at which you'll put lights or a bili-pad on the baby. (i.e., a 3kg baby would get lights when the bili reached 15, and would need an exchange transfusion when it reached 30.)

Feel free to correct me if I'm mistaken! I never knew exactly how the MD's did that until recently.

[NICU_Nurse, BSN, RN]

Oh! I just found another one:

Babies on Prostin don't need defrostin'.

(To remember that one of the main side effects is hyperthermia.)

[Mimi2RN, ASN, RN]

Six is fine, etc. It is thoracic vertebrae. We were looking at UVC placement at the time.