MICROWAVING JELLO???

[Hooked on ER]

I keep reading about people not microwaving jello at their CPNE. What the heck does that mean? Why would anyone microwave jello? Do you serve it melted? Also, how do you measure ice without melting it? Or do you serve that melted too?:bugeyes::bugeyes:

[BabyLady, BSN, RN]

You measure ice by taking half the ice volume and using that to track your I and O. So if you have 8 oz of ice you would figure that the same as 4oz of liquid.

Microwaving jello does make it break down significantly and become more like a thicker liquid, but you have to remember to take off the metal top.

[AFQN]

I've never heard of microwaving Jello-O until I started reading the posts on here. Well, you learn something new everyday.

[Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN]

I've never heard of microwaving Jello-O until I started reading the posts on here. Well, you learn something new everyday.

I actually think heard of it in nursing school. You may find during your CPNE that a CE may say to forget microwaving it to calculate accurate intake, even though it is indeed liquid intake. Fortunately none of my patients were eating Jell-O.

[AFQN]

So if the CE says to forget microwaving the Jell-O, how would one write it on the I&O sheet? In the CPNE study guide, does it mention to microwave Jell-O for accurate intake?

[Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN]

So if the CE says to forget microwaving the Jell-O, how would one write it on the I&O sheet? In the CPNE study guide, does it mention to microwave Jell-O for accurate intake?

No, it's not in there. That's a skills book thing. They'll let you know what they expect. Don't sweat this. The CEs are vocal enough during the PCS that you will know what they expect and don't expect.

[AFQN]

Thank you so much, applescruffette. I thought the CEs had to be silent through the whole process and not say anything to help one out.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Depends on the CE. Generally they are silent observers. You can ask them anything, and if it's something they cannot answer, they will reply with, "That question is of a teaching nature, and I cannot answer it." Sorta creepy-robot-Stepford-wife-ish. LOL! But every now and then, unexpected things arise, and they will say something like, "I'm stepping out of my role as a CE, blah blah blah," and they may provide clarification, or advise you to do something a certain way. So it can't hurt to ask, and generally speaking, they aren't looking to throw you under the bus with anything super-weird during the PCSs.

[bjbabs24]

I'm sorry but it still doesn't make sense to me. So, you microwave the Jello and your patient will have to drink it then? I think if you went through all that the patient would say no thanks-I would rather eat it then drink it.

I can do IV's, tube feeding, give meds. to 38 patients in a shift etc... and I am stressing about failing over I and O-I'm just frustrated so don't mind me.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

I&Os scared me, for whatever reason. I had to do I&Os on all my PCS patients, and it was much easier than I made it out to be! Just know where to document everything on the PCS paperwork -- that's important.

[Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN]

Oh no...when they are finished, you take the tray to calculate input. You will know how much the Jell-O cup is from from the start from the hospital standard...like 120 mL or whatever is. It will be posted, and you will have access to this knowledge. So then you nuke it and melt it. Say 70 mL are left. Then you take the 120 mL and subtract what was left to get what they took in. I wouldn't want nuked Jell-O either, but different strokes for different folks.

[Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN]

...and you itemize the I&O, so you would have something that looks like 2.5 mL normal saline flush, 120 mL coffee, 355 mL pop, etc. You will get a calibrated cup (mine looked like a urine specimen cup!) to measure intake.

I did fail my final PCS on I&O. It isn't hard, though.