neominder

Latest Activity

1. How common are negative outcomes in NICU?

   neominder replied to LauraLou's topic in NICU

   i have been a nicu nurse for five years, and the overwhelming majority of our patients go home and do well. we have even been suprised by a few we thought would be so badly brain damaged that they would never walk, talk, or so much a sit by them selv...

2. Cobedding Twins/Multiples

   neominder replied to donnuchi's topic in NICU

   we co-bed in our unit everything from twins to quints. the just have to be infection free, no iv's and in ra or canula. they can co-bed in isolettes or large peds cribs depending on the size of the babies. this works well with fairly healthy babes, a...

3. PICC Dressing Changes

   neominder replied to donnuchi's topic in NICU

   we used to do only prn changes when the dressing became non-occlusive. now they are q monday and prn. this was as an attempt to lower infection rate. it hasn't helped thus far, and we are having more problems with the lines being pulled back and beco...

4. Primary Centered Nursing

   neominder replied to JenniferBSN's topic in NICU

   we have primary nursing in our unit. it is completely voluntary. i love it, and almost always have a primary pt. we also have associates who care for the baby if the primary isn't there. either a nurse can sign up for a primary, or parents can ask to...

5. At what gestation would YOU want YOUR baby saved?

   neominder replied to StacyC417's topic in NICU

   In az if the infant is >24 weeks and makes any attempt to breathe we have to resusitate. which then leaves the parents the terrible decision of withdrawing support if the damage we have done is great. I wouldn't want to go to the hospital under 26...

6. Palate protection with vented babies?

   neominder replied to NICU_Nurse's topic in NICU

   thank you, now i see how they work. very good idea...the only thing i worry abour it how often would you have to remove/ clean this device? i would also worry about secretions being trapped under and becoming a breeding ground.

7. Palate protection with vented babies?

   neominder replied to NICU_Nurse's topic in NICU

   i have never heard of them before. and from the picture i can't really tell how they are supposed to be used. it sounds like i great idea. right now all we can do is tube position. as soon as any baby i am taking care of for any length of time is sta...

8. Who asked about the smallest premie?

   neominder replied to prmenrs's topic in NICU

   the smallest baby i have ever seen was under 300gms...i think the lowest she got to was 290...then we stopped weighing her because she didn't tolerate that much stimulation. she was 24 wk severe iugr...you could see her heart valves open and close th...

9. Lemon swabs for oral care? Opinions, please!`

   neominder replied to NICU_Nurse's topic in NICU

   we haven't had lemon swabs in our unit for much longer then i have been there. suctioning, sterile h2o and gauze are the norm. i like to dip a sterile cotton tipped swab in breastmilk for small vented babies. it gives them a positive oral stimulation...

10. Minimal handling policies

    neominder replied to kmaryniak's topic in NICU

    we now have an actual written policy in our unit for micro-premies, 28weeks and under. they are q6hr if at all possible, that includes coordinating respiratory and xrays. we have always done the same for pphn kids.

11. NICU Calling?

    neominder replied to JoniL&DRN's topic in NICU

    i absolutely agree. i went into nursing school knowing exactly what i wanted to do. i made it through because i knew i wouldn't have to take care of adults ever again!! i couldn't imagine doing anything else. i have been doing this for 5 years, and ...

12. Primary Care

    neominder replied to nurseiam's topic in NICU

    i believe whole heartedly in primary care in the nicu. the way our unit is set up we have 3 levels icn-intesive care level iii, ccn- level ii continuing care for feeding & growing babies nicu grads, and imc- intermediate care (pt usually ther

13. Early Extubation in micro-preemies

    neominder replied to Gompers's topic in NICU

    as with all things...it depends on the baby. i wish the docs would all see it that way. in my unit some tend to focus too much on numbers and not enough on clinical findings:angryfire. so a good blood gas means extubate, even if the patient is workin...