Advice regarding student in Neuro ICU

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I wanted to ask a question to all the ICU nurses out there. If you could teach the preceptor students 1 or 2 things before they arrived to start their preceptorship what would it be and why?

Basically, I want to know if you have any suggestions for me before I start my preceptorship in the Neuro ICU this Saturday.

Thanks Guys

Specializes in ICU.

I have started a sticky thread in this forum for people to add books and articles that they find useful - if you can add to that please go ahead!!!

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I have started a sticky thread in this forum for people to add books and articles that they find useful - if you can add to that please go ahead!!!

Thanks for the websites gwenith! I copied and pasted some of the charts on them to print onto my 3 by 5 index cards.

3rdshiftguy, I'll make it a priority to look up those meds that you noted earlier.

I'll let you guys/gals know how it went after I get off on Saturday.

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Today wasn't that bad. We had one pt with a subdural hematoma (resolved) going through DT's from alcohol withdrawal. He was a combative little thing. The other guy being on "floor status." We had a new admit that was hit in the head with a 25lb anchor. He was a site for sore eyes :chuckle (pun intended) Periorbital hematoma like crazy. Nice 3 inch laceration across his brow too. Oh man I have so much to share and so little time to do it in. This was my first time eve working a 12hr shift and it was tiresome. There is one thing I know for sure and that is I'll be buying new shoes before I start work after graduation. My legs are killing me!! Anyways, I had a great day and learned a ton. I can't wait to go back tomorrow. I will share more in the next day or too as soon as I catch up on some sleep. Going in again at 7am Sunday, so I'm hitting the sack. I've got to learn how to be a pro at this 12hr shift thing. I'm just fixing to pass out now as it is typing while lying in my bed. I'm really loving the unit so far...........zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

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Today wasn't that bad. We had one pt with a subdural hematoma (resolved) going through DT's from alcohol withdrawal. He was a combative little thing. The other guy being on "floor status." We had a new admit that was hit in the head with a 25lb anchor. He was a site for sore eyes :chuckle (pun intended) Periorbital hematoma like crazy. Nice 3 inch laceration across his brow too. Oh man I have so much to share and so little time to do it in. This was my first time eve working a 12hr shift and it was tiresome. There is one thing I know for sure and that is I'll be buying new shoes before I start work after graduation. My legs are killing me!! Anyways, I had a great day and learned a ton. I can't wait to go back tomorrow. I will share more in the next day or too as soon as I catch up on some sleep. Going in again at 7am Sunday, so I'm hitting the sack. I've got to learn how to be a pro at this 12hr shift thing. I'm just fixing to pass out now as it is typing while lying in my bed. I'm really loving the unit so far...........zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

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Glad to hear that you had such a good day, and rewarding at that..............

Keep up the good work.................

:balloons:

and please keep us posted.

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Glad to hear that you had such a good day, and rewarding at that..............

Keep up the good work.................

:balloons:

and please keep us posted.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

Peri-orbital haematoma eh??? Look up the term "racoon eyes" it has special significance and a whole slew of special "Do not's"

Racoon eyes (Bilateral periorbital haematoma) and Battle's sign ( Bruising over the mastoid) may be signs of base of skull fracture. If you notice either sign you should look for CSF leaks from nose or ears. Especially be on the look out for halo's sign.

NEURO DO NOT's for base of skull fracture

Do not ever put anything up the patients nose or in thier ears

Monitor for infection

Do NOT put anything up the patients nose or in their ears

Do not allow them to blow thier nose - especially if there is evidence of a leak

Put NOTHING in the patients nose or ears

Monitor pupils and vision very carefully as the fracture may impact on the optic nerve

When I say don't put anything up the nose or ears that includes suction catheters ear wicks and nasogastric tubes

Monitor functioning of the 3,4 and 6th nerve

Did I mention about not putting anything up the patient's nose or in thier ears??

I was going to post a picture of a CT which shows the brain intubated by a nasogastric tube but I can't find the picture - which is probably just as well as it is rather shocking.

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Specializes in ICU.

Peri-orbital haematoma eh??? Look up the term "racoon eyes" it has special significance and a whole slew of special "Do not's"

Racoon eyes (Bilateral periorbital haematoma) and Battle's sign ( Bruising over the mastoid) may be signs of base of skull fracture. If you notice either sign you should look for CSF leaks from nose or ears. Especially be on the look out for halo's sign.

NEURO DO NOT's for base of skull fracture

Do not ever put anything up the patients nose or in thier ears

Monitor for infection

Do NOT put anything up the patients nose or in their ears

Do not allow them to blow thier nose - especially if there is evidence of a leak

Put NOTHING in the patients nose or ears

Monitor pupils and vision very carefully as the fracture may impact on the optic nerve

When I say don't put anything up the nose or ears that includes suction catheters ear wicks and nasogastric tubes

Monitor functioning of the 3,4 and 6th nerve

Did I mention about not putting anything up the patient's nose or in thier ears??

I was going to post a picture of a CT which shows the brain intubated by a nasogastric tube but I can't find the picture - which is probably just as well as it is rather shocking.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics.

this is really interesting to me to hear all these tips! I am a third year out of four years nursing student, and just recently found out I will be working on a neuro unit this summer (an externship) and am eager to learn as much about neuro nursing as I can! It is not an area of nursing I really have any experience with at all, except for a little with family members. I am not sure at all what to expect! It is not an ICU, but a general neurology unit with a focus on epilepsy. Thanks for all the tips and keep them coming!! I will have to keep you all posted on how my externship goes (it starts June 7). Thanks again!! :) :) :)

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

this is really interesting to me to hear all these tips! I am a third year out of four years nursing student, and just recently found out I will be working on a neuro unit this summer (an externship) and am eager to learn as much about neuro nursing as I can! It is not an area of nursing I really have any experience with at all, except for a little with family members. I am not sure at all what to expect! It is not an ICU, but a general neurology unit with a focus on epilepsy. Thanks for all the tips and keep them coming!! I will have to keep you all posted on how my externship goes (it starts June 7). Thanks again!! :) :) :)

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Specializes in Neurology, Neurosurgerical & Trauma ICU.

Gwenith.....

EXCELLENT advice! You took the words right out of my mouth! :)

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Specializes in Neurology, Neurosurgerical & Trauma ICU.

Gwenith.....

EXCELLENT advice! You took the words right out of my mouth! :)

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