Critical care nurses... what resources would you recommend?

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After I pass the NCLEX, I will start working in a stepdown ICU. Are there any good resources that you could recommend to take with me to work (or to read at home?) I have RNotes as a general guide, but I'd like something that is aimed more specifically toward critical care. Also, do you use a PDA and which software would you recommend? Thanks!

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Specializes in ER.
http://www.icufaqs.org
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If you have an older Palm OS (Not the Pre), or Windows Mobile device, look at William Wingfield's Res-Q-Shop software package. His software is top notch and can help calculate ventilator settings among many other things such as RSI and medication tables.

For the Ipod touch/Iphone (second generation software), I recommend Fast Facts for Adult Critical Care, RSI, and Skyscape. This is all downloaded directly from Apple's App Store via your data package or WIFI.

The book I recommend is called: Air and Surface Patient Transport Principles and Practices. I believe the third edition is the newest. While this is a critical care transport book, critical care is emphasized. The format is also a no nonsense what I call "high yield" method of presenting the information. This books cuts to the point and gives you the essential information required to understand the basic concepts of critical care.

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Specializes in ER/ICU/Flight.

Tarascon.com, you can either buy the pharmacopeia, critical care guide (I have both in pocket edition) or you can purchase the softward and download it on your PDA. They update it every year (for a $), but in the past 12 years I've sworn by it and personally think they're the best. They also have some great (albeit, nerdy) humor that you'll find as you read through it, contests, interesting side notes and charts, etc.

Hope that helps, good luck with the NCLEX and the new job!

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Specializes in ER/ICU/Flight.
If you have an older Palm OS (Not the Pre), or Windows Mobile device, look at William Wingfield's Res-Q-Shop software package. His software is top notch and can help calculate ventilator settings among many other things such as RSI and medication tables.

For the Ipod touch/Iphone (second generation software), I recommend Fast Facts for Adult Critical Care, RSI, and Skyscape. This is all downloaded directly from Apple's App Store via your data package or WIFI.

The book I recommend is called: Air and Surface Patient Transport Principles and Practices. I believe the third edition is the newest. While this is a critical care transport book, critical care is emphasized. The format is also a no nonsense what I call "high yield" method of presenting the information. This books cuts to the point and gives you the essential information required to understand the basic concepts of critical care.

Also a very good book, I have a copy of that at home. It does present things in a very easy to understand format and gives you the facts you need to have without "wading through" too much extraneous stuff.

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CCRN review by Springhouse. It has dx processes...also look at your ECG recognition strips. Before long you will be able to put the 2 together and it will "click". You will know your 1st degree block is a PRI greater than .21 ...and what that means....you will learn that a new QTI greater than .44 is a BAD thing and you should look at perhaps what med you are giving that might be causing that...like amio, some atb and haldol etc etc. Learn your lethal arrythmias...VT, Vfib, SVT , 3rd drgree blocks....review your normal lab values and abn crisis ones that deem immediate MD notification....like a new PLT leve below 50k,, a new hgb less than 8,..a K+ level less than 3 or a new K greater than 5...a NA level above 150 or below 130....things like that......springhouse- CCRN review

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Thank you all so much! I'm gonna write everything down and get what I can. I feel like I'll be in school again, but at least it will be specialized and I'll be getting paid for it. Much easier to pay bills that way! :yeah:

I definitely need to work on my ECG strips! We didn't get very deep into them during school and I had a hard time with what we did learn. I guess all of this will come to me with time and practice. I just wish I knew it all now! lol

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Specializes in ED, Flight.

All the good suggestions were covered. There are, of course, some good nursing CC text's; but that isn't what you asked for.

As for EKGs, your new colleagues can certainly teach you. If you want a book/s, ask the local paramedics what they use to learn rhythm strip and 12-lead interpretation. I don't know why, but everywhere I've been the nursing schools seem to complicate the subject and do a poor job teaching it. The paramedics usually have to learn that stuff pretty well. When my wife needed to teach basic EKG to some of her staff a few years back, she borrowed my paramedic texts on the subject.

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all the good suggestions were covered. there are, of course, some good nursing cc text's; but that isn't what you asked for.

as for ekgs, your new colleagues can certainly teach you. if you want a book/s, ask the local paramedics what they use to learn rhythm strip and 12-lead interpretation. i don't know why, but everywhere i've been the nursing schools seem to complicate the subject and do a poor job teaching it. the paramedics usually have to learn that stuff pretty well. when my wife needed to teach basic ekg to some of her staff a few years back, she borrowed my paramedic texts on the subject.

that is true , that nsg schools tend to complicate it. i think it has to do with the 2 differnet types of care provided. you guys, as paramedics, stabilize the patients to get them to the ed. then as nurses , we end up trying to fix the underlying cause of what made them call 911 in the first place. usually that is a disease process they either didnt know they had , or one that have not been compliant in caring for as advised.

when the op gets to the icu they will probably have a 6 week orientation period, then they are on their own. being able to recognize those lethal arrythmias is a must. i usually teach it by "visuals" like rabbit ears on the qrs for bbb,...and a ghost covered in a sheet waving "hi" for vtach. i cant tell you how many new grads i have had come get me and say " come look ...i think i am seeing ghosts". but....things like that are what "sticks" in a new nurses mind.

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Specializes in jack of all trades.

I still carry my CCRN review book with me everywhere! It is and will remain one of the best sources. In the long run utilizing this book also helped me pass the CCRN with ease as utilizing it as my resource kept me abreast on what would be on the exam on a day to day basis. Also I love this ECG course online located

http://www.ecgrhythmcourse.com/secure/register_now.cfm

Hope this helps :)

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as for ekgs, your new colleagues can certainly teach you. if you want a book/s, ask the local paramedics what they use to learn rhythm strip and 12-lead interpretation. i don't know why, but everywhere i've been the nursing schools seem to complicate the subject and do a poor job teaching it. the paramedics usually have to learn that stuff pretty well. when my wife needed to teach basic ekg to some of her staff a few years back, she borrowed my paramedic texts on the subject.
cool! i have a friend that is in paramedic class. i'll have to ask him what books he uses.

when the op gets to the icu they will probably have a 6 week orientation period, then they are on their own. being able to recognize those lethal arrythmias is a must. i usually teach it by "visuals" like rabbit ears on the qrs for bbb,...and a ghost covered in a sheet waving "hi" for vtach. i cant tell you how many new grads i have had come get me and say " come look ...i think i am seeing ghosts". but....things like that are what "sticks" in a new nurses mind.

i'm actually lucky enough to have a 6 month orientation. that was one of the reasons i wanted the job so bad. i felt more comfortable with that, rather than the normal 12 week orientation on med-surg units. i wish you could teach me the ghost and rabbit ears! lol that sounds like something that would help. maybe i can look at the rhythm strips and figure out some things like that on my own.

i still carry my ccrn review book with me everywhere! it is and will remain one of the best sources. in the long run utilizing this book also helped me pass the ccrn with ease as utilizing it as my resource kept me abreast on what would be on the exam on a day to day basis. also i love this ecg course online located

http://www.ecgrhythmcourse.com/secure/register_now.cfm

thanks! that looks like it will be useful.
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