First timer - Burn Unit

smk4450 · Aug 15, 2003

Having worked 2 Travel Burn ICU assignments found out a bit along the way. Burn units accept many other types of pts. most needing wound care- depends on the Unit, if sterile or clean. We had several Forstbite pts. and Ped/Adult Burn Smoke Inhalation pts. Lots of those pts seem horrible at first and later look quite normal. Burn pts come in as normal healthy people and do quite well, not having a background of illnessess. The unit is much easier than ICU- those folks have a very ill background. Diprovan, vents and all the drips work well during the immediate recovery period. Plus, Burn Units have the best Nurses, ever, Sheila

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Aug 16, 2003

All I can say is, you guys are better human beings than I.......there's no way I could work in a burn unit and deal with the kinds of things you do every day without going off the deep end. Give me the little old dementia patients and the new moms and the chronically ill any day....

God bless all of you who do this work!

renerian, BSN, RN · Aug 16, 2003

Glad your job is going well red.

renerian

gwenith, BSN, RN · Aug 16, 2003

Yes please keep us posted we don't get enough action on the burns forum. I personally would love to keep up to date even though I no longer work there,

COLOGIRL · Nov 3, 2003

Glad to here things are going well. I'm graduating in may and looking at starting on the burn unit. It's nice to know your a new graduate and loving it.

Pkirk618 · Nov 24, 2003

Here is some advice:

Stay hydrated and think pain management.

Welcome to the world of Burns!!

elohrasbi · Feb 20, 2006

Hi all, I passed NCLEX & have just done my first two weeks in Burn ICU. Still trying to figure out whether I love it or hate it. My stomach seems to be ok ~ I've seen a few 90% burns, escharotomies, had patients die, all of that... but I had an experience the other day where I had to cause pain that really shook me up. I mean, here is this woman who has just finished telling me about her flower garden, & then I have to make her cry & beg me to stop. I wanted to give her more pain meds, but apparently she's very sensitive to morphine & they wanted to keep her at a level she could "tolerate". I suppose she tolerated it, afterwards she was fine... but it was very painful for both of us. I hated having to do that. If I could do it over perhaps I'd use some non-pharm methods, like visualization? I don't know. I'm trying to find a way to reconcile having to cause pain. Anyone out there have suggestions?

Pkirk618 · Feb 20, 2006

Just think that what you do now will shorten the pain later.

...and we can't take away all the pain now.

tollern · Feb 20, 2006

During a rotation at the UNC Burn Center in Chapel Hill NC I heard an amazing thing from a 90% burn survivor. He said.....

"Burn patients carry their scars on the outside for all the world to see. Burn nurses carry theirs on the inside where they are hidden."

nurse lucky · Feb 20, 2006

I have worked with burns on/off for 15 years. The thing that amazed me is that if you medicate well enough, they state the treatments were fine. I took care of a 98% who screamed bloody murder and cursed me and everything to do with me during the debridements. After 2 hours in the tub room and then the 1 hour to complete the dressing change, I took a much needed break and when I returned he always said the dressing change was a piece of cake, thank you!

I love concious sedation and dilaudid push!

Now I work in a neuro ICU and its similar, causing pain. You do get used to it, but always be proud of the pain relief that you can bring them. Never shirk your duty to control it, just because you have a better tolerance for causing it.

Pkirk618 · Feb 20, 2006

I love concious sedation and dilaudid push!

for you or the patient? lol jk.

gotta love it.

nurse lucky · Feb 20, 2006

for you or the patient? lol jk.
gotta love it.

Thanks for that laugh, I needed that. I am so stressed out about work lately, just got back from vacation, but it didn't help. :roll