nikkicoliCCRN

nikkicoliCCRN has 15 years experience and specializes in MICU/SICU PCU/Education/Transplant.

Latest Activity

1. What method Debridement do you use in your Burn Unit now days?

   nikkicoliCCRN replied to ARDS's topic in Burn

   Actually it really depends on the patients. Patients that are intubated often get fentanyl and versed. These patients often do not remember much of anything. Not sure where you're getting your information but most patients are managed with many diff...

2. What method Debridement do you use in your Burn Unit now days?

   nikkicoliCCRN replied to ARDS's topic in Burn

   I am an ACNP student that is doing my internship in the biggest burn unit in the country. I have seen mostly surgical debridement. As a nurse for 15 years, mostly in critical care I think there is a level of separation. Except when there is a child. ...

3. LPN to RN

   nikkicoliCCRN replied to julie1612's topic in LPN-RN

   I did the Excelsior program in 2004. There were no "clinicals" but there was a CPNE that was a clincal based assessment at the end of the program. I did the program in 1 year from start to finish. The biggest warning I give is that this program is se...

4. New to nursing field - got fired after 2 months

   nikkicoliCCRN replied to lifeisgood2012's topic in New Nurse

   The problem with LTC a lot of the time is the reason they are the only place hiring is because their turn over is so high. They SHOULD have trained you the way they wanted. If there were problems they should have given you a chance to go back on orie...

5. hyperkalemia

   nikkicoliCCRN replied to aannaa's topic in MICU

   I agree to follow your faciltiy policy but my guess is that you can't and shouldn't. Calcium chloride should only be pushed in a code. Are you thinking about Calcium gluconate? That can be pushed. You might want to check because there is a big differ...

6. Fecal Management Systems

   nikkicoliCCRN replied to JulieRees's topic in MICU

   I have used flexiseal in all the places I've ever worked. It either works or doesn't. According to the inservice provided by the maker the are supposed to leak. (Yes this is what they said). There should always be some leakage around the system. The ...

7. Non stemi

   nikkicoliCCRN replied to TT2seven's topic in MICU

   This seems like it might be out of scope of practice. It takes years of practice to read 12 leads. I don't know many nurses who are skilled at this nevermind required to be skilled at this. This seems more like an advanced practice skill and requirem...

8. WOW! The public really doesn't like us, huh?

   nikkicoliCCRN replied to Mrs. SnowStormRN's topic in General Nursing

   I take it that you didn't get the memo that we are nurses, housekeepers, hotel managers, drug pushing, pillow fluffing, psychic, lazy, mean people!!? I have learned that people think that we should stand by the bed and hold their hand all night long....

9. Single Use Leads

   nikkicoliCCRN posted a topic in MICU

   Hey all you wonderful ICU people. Has anyone use single patient use monitor leads? I was wondering what kind of feedback anyone has. We are piloting them in our ICU. Our goal is to decrease sternal wound infections. The few studies done also suggest ...

10. Death and Dying in the ICU

    nikkicoliCCRN replied to nikkicoliCCRN's topic in MICU

    This is something else that I find. There is no real "DNR policy". There is this gray area of "understanding" what DNR is. I also feel that we do things just to say we are doing them. We have a few doctors that are good, but we do have some who just ...

11. Death and Dying in the ICU

    nikkicoliCCRN replied to nikkicoliCCRN's topic in MICU

    Thank you so much for this. I strongly agree. I would think it would be different. If you are so strong in your beliefs of religion you would be comforted by the peace of death. It's just not the case. I also feel that doctors avoid the conversation ...

12. Chlorhexidine Baths

    nikkicoliCCRN replied to ckh23's topic in MICU

    I'm not trying to be cynical, but I worked in an ICU that had no VAP for 2 years. I also believe that they were very good at manipulating the numbers. I have a hard time believing facilities that make this claim without seeing the exclusion numbers. ...

13. New RN and starting a family - advice please

    nikkicoliCCRN replied to arabstarRN's topic in General Nursing

    It took me 4 years to get pregnant. You never know how long it's going to take until you try. You sound like a planner, but there are not ever going to be solid plans with babies. They happen when they do, come out when they are ready. I wish you hap...

14. Nurses with nose piercings?

    nikkicoliCCRN replied to Chameleonchick's topic in General Nursing

    There are a lot of "what ifs" that can happen any day in nursing. I work in ICU and there is all types of things that can happen. I can honestly say that an earings and nose studs are the least of my worries.

15. Nurses with nose piercings?

    nikkicoliCCRN replied to Chameleonchick's topic in General Nursing

    Wow! What where did you find the stats that only the lower class have tatoos and piercings? I would love to read the data on that!