PICU here I come!!

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So I recently accepted a job offer in the pediatric ICU. My background consists of the Burn ICU and Med/Surg. Any advice for a new pediatric nurse? I got a little bit of experience from being on BICU however, my mind frame is still used to the adult world. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

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Specializes in PICU.

Watch your medications! Always triple check the dose and use a co-worker to double check you for emergency medications you draw up. Too much medication is deadly in the little ones. I have caught mistakes from pharmacy a few times. Also, the parents are pretty tense in PICU. Listen to them, take care of them, and your life will be much happier. I always start my day by offering the parents a cup of coffee or water- it helps them to know you are on their side. :) Good luck!

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

You could brush up on your blood gas analysis, respiratory physiology (most kids come in with primarily respiratory issues), vital signs norms for children, and your med math. You'll already have a good grasp of critical care basics, sepsis and septic shock, analgesia and sedation and isolation techniques.

To echo what minim said, having the parents present pretty much all the time, developing a team approach with them will take you a long way.

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