PrudenceNurse

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1. My Inspiration to Become a Nurse

   PrudenceNurse posted a topic in Rock

   I write fiction. I could compose a lovely story about the magnificent women who inspired me to become a nurse. I could tell you in poetic prose about their near-saintly lives, deep caring for their patients, and a profound love of humankind. It would...

2. Pulse Oximetry

   PrudenceNurse replied to Sunlight-RN's topic in NICU

   In our unit, the Respiratory Therapists have NOTHING to do with the pulse oximetry. We are responsible for rotating sites and for adjusting FIO2, etc.

3. HELP! Ostomy bag will NOT stay on!

   PrudenceNurse replied to Preemie2RN's topic in NICU

   How about the "Eakin ring"? It is a moldable pectin-based substance. You can roll it (like playdough) into a "snake" and then mold it around and between the stomas to form a flatter surface that bags will stick to better. I've also tried using a "No-...

4. Preceptorship in NICU - waste of time?

   PrudenceNurse replied to 3fins's topic in NICU

   Our Level 3/4 NICU does hire new grads, and we would probably be more likely to hire someone who had done an internship (or preceptorship as you called it) in our unit over someone who had not.

5. NG/OG tube verification policies

   PrudenceNurse replied to Sue Hinds's topic in NICU

   We don't have a written policy (perhaps we should), but we teach that aspiration is the best way to verify placement. Auscultation is not very accurate, especially in the micro-preemies, because if the tip of the tube is in the esophagus, you can sti...

6. Skin care for Premature Neonates

   PrudenceNurse replied to wrighty's topic in NICU

   What exactly is a "bio-occlusive dressing"? Tegaderm? Please give more details/examples?

7. Skin care for Premature Neonates

   PrudenceNurse replied to wrighty's topic in NICU

   We have Extremely Low Birthweight Guidelines that include: no leads; "soft touch" pulse ox probe with no adhesive; mist tent for 72 hours; after initial bath, water only (no cleanser) for two weeks; remove all Betadine/Chloraprep with sterile water A...

8. Starting off as a New Grad in the NICU--bad idea?

   PrudenceNurse replied to iDeftones's topic in NICU

   I started in a NICU as a new grad 27.5 years ago, and have no regrets. I would NEVER want to do any other kind of nursing. I have never had a problem finding a job in any part of the country. I got an MSN in Nursing Education in 2007 and have done ...

9. How often do you change clear fluids? Pressors in particular!

   PrudenceNurse replied to NICU_babyRN's topic in NICU

   We zero all fluids on pumps at midnight each night.

10. How often do you change clear fluids? Pressors in particular!

    PrudenceNurse replied to NICU_babyRN's topic in NICU

    We change all lines/tubing only twice a week on Saturdays and Wednesdays as a part of a CABSI initiative. New syringes/bags of course must be put up every day. For the extremely fragile baby on pressors, you can make a whole new set of fluids and med...

11. Feeding Protocols

    PrudenceNurse replied to HawkeyeRN's topic in NICU

    One of our NNPs developed a great feeding protocol that the nurses "order" everyday after calculating volume based on mLs/kg/day. We have the same stops and starts with the micropreemie, but it has made it very easy because it is nurse-generated. Re...

12. What to use on the nares to prevent breakdown of skin

    PrudenceNurse replied to wrighty's topic in NICU

    We have the same problem with RTs in my unit. I do what you do--put on Duoderm and switch from prongs to mask frequently myself. The other compliance problem we have with the RTs is their refusal to put ExtraThin Duoderm on baby's cheeks under their ...

13. What to use on the nares to prevent breakdown of skin

    PrudenceNurse replied to wrighty's topic in NICU

    We actually DO use Duoderm, but we use the ExtraThin Duoderm that is "breathable". If you cut it into an inverted T shape you can put the horizontal part of the T over the philtrum and run the vertical part of the T over the septum, securing it at th...

14. I NEED ADVICE on URINARY CATHETERS

    PrudenceNurse posted a topic in NICU

    What antiseptic is everyone using for insertion of urinary catheters? Betadine? Chloraprep? CHG handsoap? For daily care, just baby soap and water like a bath, or more antiseptic? Also, is anyone using an actual Foley catheter and blowing up the ...

15. preventing CABSI

    PrudenceNurse posted a topic in NICU

    We are doing a quality improvement program in our NICU to decrease our Catheter Associated Blood Stream Infection rate. I would love any information from other units about how you do line changes and how often, closed medication systems, sterile vers...