NICU nurses - watch ER tonight!

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

The episode is entitled "NICU" and it should be quite interesting. They've done NICU stuff in the past, and it's either been pretty realistic or completely idiotic.

I can't wait to see how it turns out this time. Focuses almost completely on Abby and Neela as they do a month in NICU for med school.

:)

[dawngloves, BSN, RN]

Wadda ya trying to do to me? Make me crazy yelling at the TV all night?:roll

[NICU_Nurse, BSN, RN]

Yay- I'm actually off and able to watch! My husband's going to hate me tonight. I'm a screamer.

[NICU_Nurse, BSN, RN]

I mean yeller. I'm a yeller. I yell at the TV is what I meant. Yelling.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

yeah right, you said screamer. we ALL heard you.

[babynurse2B]

anybody watch er? i plan to go into nicu nursing, just wondering if you guys thought this was realistic. is it always that crazy in there? it looks busier than the er! lol i'd love ot hear your comments!

[dawngloves, BSN, RN]

I don't know wher to begin! Those were some healthy looking sick kids!

I swear they had the same story line on that hospital show on CBS that lasted a minute!:chuckle

[babynurse2B]

which show are you talking about? i used to watch both er and chicago hope religiously.... are you talking about chicago hope?

yes, i did notice those babies looked a little bigger/more plump and healthier than usual. they were all awake and kicking and looking around.... also some of them had a few tubes/machines, but from what i remember, there are a lot more in the real nicu. i'm curious....does anyone know if er uses a medical advisor for the specific floor/unit that is predominant in that episode? i assume they have medical advisor(s) in general, but i wonder if they use any real nicu people when writing the script or when setting up for the shoot. hmm...just a thought. :)

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

They do use medical advisors but they don't seem to get specific ones for each area of medicine, especially when they show NICU!

They had a 58-day-old ex 33-weeker (making him 1 week post term) in an isolette with bili lights on! That heart baby was never dusky at any point, and he looked gorgeous and was kicking around as Abby carried him to his family to die of overwhelming NEC and sepsis. And the twins - the boy was 3 times the size of the girl! I know she was sicker, but come on!!! Also - and I could very well be wrong because we don't do ECMO where I work - but I thought that it's contraindicated in sick preemies? The NICU where I worked as a CNA did ECMO and I never saw a preemie on it once!

My biggest beef was actually that they had med students doing resident-level work. I've never once seen a med student being handed a lifeless baby in the DR, intubating, or doing an LP. Is that just my hospital? I wouldn't want someone without a license or MD intubating, recussitating, or tapping MY kid!!!

[llg, PhD, RN]

I intended to watch it but forgot. Now, reading your posts, I am glad I didn't see it. I'm an old NICU nurse from way back and it sounds like I would have been ranting and raving at the TV -- again!

llg

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

I loved when they intubated that kid and the attending said.... 24/8 ....you just gave the kid a pneumo into his bowel...he really didn't have NEC :lol

And since when are med students allowed in the NICU...we don't have any!

And the ECMO was for drama... geez...they need to get some better advisors.

That crabby nurse...she was something, wasn't she?

Oh, and the NEC kid...our one surgeon would have given the kid like 8 stomas and sent him back...happy short gut!

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

I had to laugh too and I don't work anywhere near the NICU...What about the HIPPA/ confidentiality in the NICU and the way they talk about other patients??

That nurse was something huh?