DogLover17

Latest Activity

1. PCU experience for CRNA school?

   DogLover17 replied to TT_RN's topic in SRNA

   You need to contact the schools to ask. My PCU experience does count because we were titrating inotropes, had arterial lines and Swans...just wasn't considered ICU by the hospital because our only ventilators were chronic vents and we weren't technic...

2. Question about ICD/pacemaker

   DogLover17 replied to AnnieOaklyRN's topic in CCU

   Almost all ICD's I've seen will ATP pace before. We had a guy come in in VT storm and it would ATP pace x 10 (!!!) before shocking. (His request--Had some serious PTSD from ICD shocks and eventually had the ICD turned off completely.)

3. ratio's with induced hypothermia patients

   DogLover17 replied to **LaurelRN's topic in CCU

   I thought we were always 1:1...but then I realized all of my hypothermia patients had an IABP! 1:1 during the cooling phase, but usually if we have a hypothermia the other patient is pretty stable.

4. Could you see yourself being anything else besides a nurse?

   DogLover17 replied to Infofreak411's topic in General Nursing

   Veterinarian. I was in school studying animal science and taking pre-vet courses and my parenrs told me they'd cut me off if I didnt switch. I liked the flexibility of nursing so I switched to that (with a lot of work, it wasn't easy to just switch i...

5. Pet peeve, bad practice, or overly critical?

   DogLover17 replied to NewICU's topic in Critical

   We have nurses who do the same thing. However, our policy is that the patient must be assessed within 30 minutes of arrival to the unit. I assess, look over my orders and make sure there's nothing that has to be done immediately, and then bathe them....

6. How many schools did you apply to?

   DogLover17 posted a topic in SRNA

   Just wondering how many schools the majority of people applied to. Some people I know applied to 10+, others only 2-3.

7. Can I pass PCCN with one year experience?

   DogLover17 replied to Curious1alwys's topic in Cardiac

   I passed with one year of step-down experience. It wasn't easy though. Look at the AACN blueprint and see how much you see on your unit and study appropriately.

8. Swan question from a new CCU RN

   DogLover17 replied to kool-aide, RN's topic in CCU

   deleted, I was very wrong. Love learning from this site!

9. IS MICU/SICU too much for New Grad?

   DogLover17 replied to RNewbie0203's topic in MICU

   One question I'd encourage you to ask is the turnover rate on the unit. Right now on night shift we typically have 2-3 new grads (who are extremely capable), a few new to ICU nurses but not new nurses, and one person with more experience. It's really...

10. Propofol Increasing HR?

    DogLover17 replied to MallysMama's topic in MICU

    My post-op CABG last week had a very similar issue (no hydralazine though) and the NP thought it could be from the propofol. When I asked her for a broader understanding why she didn't give me an answer. A few days later I found out he was a very hea...

11. How long did you work med-surg before getting an ICU job?

    DogLover17 replied to Lev's topic in MICU

    A nurse practitioner I highly respect told me, while I was working in a high acuity step-down unit, that when you start to get bored or comfortable it's time to move on. For me it was about a year and a half, others less time.

12. Do you think too tight pants causes abdominal problems?

    DogLover17 replied to Emergent's topic in Emergency

    When I was in high school/college and going to the doctor frequently (2-3x a year for probably 5 years) complaining about abdominal pain/issues the doctors' frequently asked if my clothes were too tight. Turns out it was celiac disease, but I did fin...

13. PCCN certification

    DogLover17 replied to nursejackie11's topic in Cardiac

    I didn't use any other resources. I honestly don't have a hard time with standardized tests though. She definitely covered an appropriate amount of resources but really just the practice questions. The SAW from the AACN empathetic_cynic mentioned is ...

14. Advice for well, not a brand new nurse... but

    DogLover17 replied to lyssajill's topic in CCU

    Switch preceptors. Talk to your manager, charge nurses, educators, anyone you can to get a new preceptor. This is your career and your job opportunity, you deserve the best!

15. self extubation

    DogLover17 replied to lmarti10's topic in MICU

    One of the most experienced nurses on my unit (like, 25+ years in ICU) recently had a patient self extubate. Respiratory therapy saw the patient (90+ years old, post surgical, very weak prior to surgery and more so after) contort himself in an extrem...