ECMO

Specialties PICU

Published

I have been an ECMO R.N. for three years working side by side with another R.N.( one runs the pump the other doing pt. care) Now the PICU is training Respiratory Therapists to manage the pump. Does anyone else work in a hospital where this is common practice? Is nursing responsible for the actions (Comission or omission) of the therapist?wj

Specializes in Critical and Intensive Care.

Oh, what you have written is so full of HOPE!!

... I can't be thankful enough for it and for the effort you put into scanning those standards of your ward!!

Today I discussed the matter with my dpt manager, her reaction was more than encouraging and she promissed to help me. What I actually hope for is to put together a team of my colleague nurses with some experience with ECMO, perfusionists and doctors... and use your standards as a guidance... to make our own. To make all members of the team as knowledgeable as they need to be, and what more, to set clear goals in every aspect of care and how to achieve them according to the needs of our patients. Taking into consideration the enviroment of our department and all the resourses we have, of course.

Well, I must confess I'm feeling a little bit foolish... I'm feeling like a kid who's been given an expensive musical instrument...and who learns to play it in a symphony orchestra.

Thank you once more..!!

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

It sounds like you're taking on a very worthwhile project! I'm thrilled to be able to help you with it. The world needs more people, never mind nurses(!), who see a need and find a way to fill it. I wish you much success, both with developing your program and with improving outcomes for your patients. That's really what it's all about.

Specializes in Peds ICU, ECMO, IABP.

We have very good results at my facility which covers NICU and PICU ECMO cases. Our stats are very good compared to the national averages.

Specializes in ECMO.
We have very good results at my facility which covers NICU and PICU ECMO cases. Our stats are very good compared to the national averages.

is this at Cook?

is the ECMO team composed of RNs and RTs?

Specializes in Critical and Intensive Care.

Good news for my little "project"!! My colleagues and the head doctor of our ward got interested, too!!!...spending Friday and the whole weekend at work with them (We've got 12 hrs shifts, days and nights.), I've had enough time to survey, what do they all think about such an enterprise.. and.. what I've got was a very positive response, even from the doc!! He, too, admitted we've got plenty to learn about ECMO and that we do need a system for its management!! I know he will be very willing to contribute... so, they all are prepared to support our future guidelines for using it!!

..so, I just have to go on with searching the web for any piece of information available to expand the stock of targets we already have for the nursing care. And with a contribution other members of our team, nurses, docs and perfusionists... and your "guidance"... it might work.

PS:Thanks for your support, too!!

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

I spoke to the medical director of our ECLS program yesterday and he's very pleased that we're going to be able to help. He suggeeted that I also send you a copy of our policy and procedure for ECLS, something I'll consider after I see how many pages it is! I still have to track down the order sheets, and I'll look at the P&P tonight. Watch your PMs.

Specializes in Critical and Intensive Care.

Woooooow!!! I can't even express, how excited I feel about it all!!.. and thankful!!... I'm already going through some guidelines for ECMO I've found on the net, nursing care standards included!! And it all has just intensified the feeling our team has a lot ..a lot..a lot to learn!!

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

I'm going to talk to the program supervisor and see if he has all the documents as files on his computer. If he does, then I'll connect you up with him and he can send all the stuff to you. He's getting things ready to run another training session for new specialists, so he should have everything handy...

Specializes in Critical and Intensive Care.

Oh, that would be wondeful of you!!... I am speechless...or I would be repeating myself... but still: Thank you!!

I did some serious search and found ECLS Guidelines of Great Ormond Street Hospital in the UK..and quantities of ECMO articles on Medscape and PubMed... well, as I wrote before, plenty to learn!!!

Specializes in Critical and Intensive Care.

By the way, this is my department, the whole building it is... so sorry I have no pictures from inside our ward!...it belongs to the General Teaching Hospital in Prague.http://kardiochirurgie.lf1.cuni.cz/

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

It looks like a very well-preserved and historic building. I wish Canada would pay attention to its historical architectural gems. Instead we tear them down and replace them with glass boxes.

The hospital where I work is continually expanding and adding on wings and annexes. The one closest to completion right now is the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, which will house the entire cardiovascular program with the exception of our unit and the pediatric cardiology inpatient unit. The Mazankowski is to the left of the photo; it's the rounded glass part and the red-brown section with all the angles. Our unit is on the third floor of the lighter brick building, about where the shadow of the Maz hits it. The building in the foreground on the right is the new gastrointestinal research building. The Univesrtiy of Alberta Schools of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing are all housed within the confines of the building somewhere.

Maz-andUAH.jpg

Specializes in Critical and Intensive Care.

Hurray!!!...having another ECMO under my care!!!!!..another opportunity to learn...having our perfusionist present I can discuss the matter with him!!..this time the patient is sedated, forunately!!

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