spartangal1989

spartangal1989 has 10 years experience and specializes in neonatal icu.

Latest Activity

1. Low census anyone?

   spartangal1989 replied to Humbled_Nurse's topic in NICU

   I'm in Detroit, and for the 13 years that I have been an NICU nurse low census was not a problem. That is until now. Since December we have been on and off slow. I have been given more LCD in one month than i have in the previous 12 years! I don'...

2. advice for barcode scanning of infants

   spartangal1989 replied to kimbittybabyrn's topic in NICU

   Our unit purchased hand scanners, and they can scan thru plexiglass of isolette. But still difficult if ID braclet has turned. Some of our smallest have the ID band on and a duplicate taped outside isolette.

3. What TO DO?

   spartangal1989 replied to ehlay's topic in Texas

   good luck, I think that a refresher course is a great idea. Wish I knew one to point you to. Just be honest in any interview that you do get on why there was a big lapse in time between school and starting your career. You do not have to go into t...

4. Your thoughts on the nursing jurisprudence examination?

   spartangal1989 replied to KungFuFtr's topic in Texas

   I found the $25 class helpful. I took and passed the exam immediately after i took the class while the info was fresh in my mind. I think it was worth it, my time is valuable and having to look over all of the info needed to pass would have taken m...

5. The Problem with Nursing

   spartangal1989 replied to sarjasy's topic in General Nursing

   Good luck with your career, I am concerned that this might not be the job for you. There appears to be a superior attitude in your post. I have worked with many new grads with similar attitudes. In fact I might have even been one. In my years of e...

6. Post Traumatic Stress anyone else?

   spartangal1989 replied to kangarooyou's topic in NICU

   I have been doing this for almost 11 years, and it really never gets better with a term or near term. We know how sick they are, but unless there is a chromosomal abonormality incompatable with life is it ever easier. You just learn how to cope a b...

7. rotating shifts?!

   spartangal1989 replied to scrabblern's topic in NICU

   I am still rotating after almost 11 years at the same NICU. We rotate to the off shift (7p-7a) for a one month schedule. I rotate 2 times in 12 months. I can do them in a row or seperate them by 6 months. I will have to rotate until I have 20 year...

8. Octuplets

   spartangal1989 replied to Sweeper933's topic in NICU

   are you ***** kidding me 31 week baby going to be in the hospital for 2 weeks! Lets have the public have even more unrealistic expectations when they have micropreemies. The media makes it sound like its no big deal to have a baby under 2lbs, and und...

9. Questions about neonate drug withdrawal management

   spartangal1989 replied to Race Mom's topic in NICU

   You are right on base with the morphine! Most recent evidence based practice show this to be effective. Kuddos for really advocating proper withdrawl managment. I see withdrawl both iatrogenic and maternally induced frequently. It is intolerable a...

10. hourly rate

    spartangal1989 replied to jeffrey01's topic in Michigan

    I make about $33/hr with 10 yrs experience in the NICU in the DMC. $2 more on weekends and the off shift diff depends on nights or afternoons. Good luck with your search ( I love working in detroit, so if you like the urban setting, come on down!)

11. HIE and the CoolCap System

    spartangal1989 replied to MegNeoNurse's topic in NICU

    The cooling has made a Major difference in outcomes! There is an article in the New England Journal of Medicine by Seetha Shankaran that details the difference in outcomes.

12. What is the Highest Bilirubin you've ever seen?

    spartangal1989 replied to dawngloves's topic in NICU

    normal bili levels are dependant on age (in terms of hours/days), gestational age, and institutional values. I know this isn't really the answer that you want to hear, but in general a full term healthy baby should be less than 10 at 24 hours of age...

13. My first med error :(

    spartangal1989 replied to RNin2007's topic in NICU

    It sounds like you are on the right track to prevent further med errors. Whats important is that we learn from our mistakes. Of course you feel bad, I personally feel its important to allow time to feel a little bad (we do work with very precious p...

14. NICU Parent Discharge Education

    spartangal1989 replied to s.maire.2126's topic in NICU

    WOW! What a great thing to actually require that all parents take a class. We have no such requirement, except for CPR for home o2, trach, and vent discharges. But I have made it a priority to teach our parents. Plus getting families together all...

15. Anyone attended Wayne State University??

    spartangal1989 replied to cjmue12's topic in NP

    sorry to hear of your poor experiences. I wish the CON were more supportive of you. As for the NCLEX, I took the Kaplan course (which is expensive) but they guaranteed a passing score or you could retake the class. It is a shame that you cannot pr...