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Used to do 'weekend warrior' assignments to the burn unit in a children's hospital. It was a regional place, so it had babies to adults. The worst for me was the screaming, aside from the horrific and grotesque nature of some of those patients- many caused from deliberate burns/abuse. And the heat, the profuse sweating from wearing all that PPE. And the ordeal of entering and leaving the unit. The staff there told me on average, nurses lasted less then two months on that unit.
mlbluvr said:Used to do 'weekend warrior' assignments to the burn unit in a children's hospital. It was a regional place, so it had babies to adults. The worst for me was the screaming, aside from the horrific and grotesque nature of some of those patients- many caused from deliberate burns/abuse. And the heat, the profuse sweating from wearing all that PPE. And the ordeal of entering and leaving the unit. The staff there told me on average, nurses lasted less then two months on that unit.
I gave some thought to applying to UNC's Burn Unit (which, BTW, is Amazing!) recently, but it is exactly the screaming you are talking about that gave me pause. People who work with burn victims have first-class seats going straight to heaven, as far as I can tell. The children in particular would haunt me long after I left the unit.
k-hole said:I gave some thought to applying to UNC's Burn Unit (which, BTW, is Amazing!) recently, but it is exactly the screaming you are talking about that gave me pause. People who work with burn victims have first-class seats going straight to heaven, as far as I can tell. The children in particular would haunt me long after I left the unit.
For what it's worth, burn care is changing. We're moving away from daily tankings and even daily dressing changes. Those two things are what tend to cause the most pain and anxiety in our patients. Pain management is HUGE. Especially with our kiddos and adolescents. We basically do all pediatric patients under conscious sedation -- ketamine -- and it's not unusual for me to push 600 mcg of fent and another 6 mg of versed during a typical thirty minute dressing change on an adult.
I think we're also one of the few specialties that routinely intubates and sedates for pain control.
The PPE used during dressings (esp. new big burns where we also have the thermostat cranked up to 100 F and tankings) isn't going to change and it can be utterly miserable. I've sweated in places that I didn't even know could sweat. But our unit and many others are utilizing evidence based research to move away from needing to gown up totally for every burn patient.
Burn can be very rewarding! I wouldn't let the stereotypes of what burn care was in the past keep you from shadowing a unit or two to see how things are done.
In southeast PA, Crozer Chester Medical Centers Nathan Speare Regional Burn Treatment Center opened 1973 (year I graduated HS)
They've earned an international reputation for excellence in holistic burn care, treating more than 10,000 patients since opening. They were first in the nation to be accredited by Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) along with PA state Trauma center and American Burn Association's Burn Center Verification/Consultation Program
This center provides an Advanced Burn Life Support (ABLS) Provider Course
Burn care: Are there sufficient providers and facilities?
Quote...Of the 5,795 total registered hospitals in the you.S., there are only 123 burn centers today, down from 180 burn centers in 1976. Of these burn centers, 60 are verified by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Burn Association verification criteria, and 63 are non-verified burn centers 6 (see Figure 1, page 34).Only 37 burn centers in the you.S. are verified to care for both adult and pediatric burn patients. For a facility to be recognized as a verified burn center, it must demonstrate competence in all aspects of patient care, from the pre-hospital setting through post- discharge rehabilitation. Centers also must have dedicated burn staff, treat a minimum number of patients per year, and maintain involvement in burn-related research.
Verified Burn Center list available at American Burn Assocition
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I was doing some research on http://www.ameriburn.org/ and reading as to where the top burn centers are. Can anyone shed any light on maybe the top 10 best in the nation are? or where to find that answer?