augigi

augigi CNS

Critical Care, Cardiothoracics, VADs

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All Content by augigi

  1. Mucomyst iv

    augigi replied to msn2008's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    i agree, it is generally given orally to minimize contrast-related renal toxicity due to it's antioxidant properties which prevent oxidative renal tissue damage. a couple of studies: 1....

  2. Tandem Heart.....

    augigi replied to CardioTrans's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    I don't disbelieve you! As a "rep" for a device company I find it a bit sad that you assume the company is skewing the numbers though!! I do think that a lot of units have the old Abiomed BVS5000 on...

  3. Need some solid answers

    augigi replied to VivaRN's topic in MICU, SICU

    I agree that a chart/table listing all the drugs on both X and Y axis and with green/red dots as to what is compatible with what should be in every critical care unit. We had a great one in my last...

  4. Query about ventilator problems

    augigi replied to jasper_x's topic in MICU, SICU

    I guess I have another point of view, since I work for a device company :) It happens occasionally that something occurs in the field which cannot be reproduced back in the lab by the technicians. In...

  5. Post CRAB clean

    augigi replied to gradcare's topic in MICU, SICU

    I hate to sound dumb, but what is

  6. University Melbourne or RMIT

    augigi replied to xng's topic in International Nursing

    The computer matching system which was used in Victoria when I graduated, meant that you selected your favoured hospitals, and you interviewed at each. They then selected their top candidates and if...

  7. PLEASE! Advice for Newbie LPN in CARDIAC

    augigi replied to Holly27's topic in Cardiac

    I'm not sure how acute your unit is, but you should have printed careplans/pathways for the most common procedures eg. valve repair/replacement, coronary grafts. These should be helpful in working out...

  8. Cardiothoracic Nursing texts

    augigi replied to AussieKylie's topic in Cardiac

    The best book (on any subject) I have had is Cardiothoracic Surgical Nursing by Betsy Finkelmeier - love

  9. questions about PVCs and mitral regurgitation

    augigi replied to LanaBanana's topic in Cardiac

    (Not sure what level you are at, so forgive me if this is too basic) Many people have occasional PVCs. Basically when it happens, the electrical system does not energize the heart correctly, so it...

  10. Straight Dope on Acinetobacter please

    augigi replied to fireflyLPN's topic in Infectious Disease

    Acinetobacter is a huge problem for a unit. once one patient in critical care has it, nearly every other patient does. Once the patient is discharged, we have to dispose of every consumable item in...

  11. dryer sheets inbetween dressings?????

    augigi replied to hospicemom's topic in Infectious Disease

    Medihoney - or medical grade honey dressings!! Not sure if it is yet approved in the US, but it is a great dressing which removes (rather than masking)

  12. the role of FNP in hyperbarics

    augigi replied to nursetim's topic in Wound, Ostomy, Continence

    I used to work in a hyperbaric chamber which was used day to day for wound care, but also emergently for bent divers and critical care patients. As far as I can see, the docs are only needed for the...

  13. Query about ventilator problems

    augigi replied to jasper_x's topic in MICU, SICU

    Why don't you put it in writing in a complaint to the device company (they have to investigate as part of their quality management system), or reporting the incident to the FDA Medwatch? This just...

  14. Nursing is hard!

    augigi replied to cardiacRN2006's topic in MICU, SICU

    The good news is that if you're worried about it, you're probably a good nurse. Be very wary of taking meds to take your mind off it - this is a trap a lot of nurses fall into. Try taking up a hobby...

  15. Starting out in the SICU

    augigi replied to fishinNbanjo's topic in MICU, SICU

    That really annoys me - I used to work as a clinical educator for a medical device company, and to be called a "rep" and asked "where's the food?" annoyed the hell out of me! Why can't people attend...

  16. Starting out in the SICU

    augigi replied to fishinNbanjo's topic in MICU, SICU

    That really annoys me - I used to work as a clinical educator for a medical device company, and to be called a "rep" and asked "where's the food?" annoyed the hell out of me! Why can't people attend...

  17. 7000 fatal med errors last year-where are theses nurses?

    augigi replied to supportneeded's topic in General Nursing

    I was going to send a PM, but then decided to just write it here for all to see. People make mistakes, every day. It's just that when nurses do, the potential for fatality is there. I am very sorry...

  18. asa/plavix resistance

    augigi replied to jer_sd's topic in Nurse Practitioners, NP

    It is difficult to give a concise answer, because even the literature cannot agree on these issues. The good news with regard to your question is that even those that agree ASA/clopidogrel resistance...

  19. What Is a Noncompete Agreement in an Employment Contract?

    augigi replied to sirI's topic in Nurse Practitioners, NP

    The bottom line is "reasonable". A court will not enforce a clause which prohibits an employee from gaining employment in a whole field. Unless there is direct competition and lost income involved, I...

  20. Preload, Afterload, Contractility

    augigi replied to VickyRN's topic in Cardiac

    I teach VADs to doctors, surgeons and nurses (crit care and floor nurses) as well as to patients and carers (sometime 80yo's!). The best way I have found to describe cardiac preload and afterload is a...

  21. Is it hard to get a job as a cardiac NP?

    augigi replied to Epona's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    This is getting to be a huge area, for cardiology as well as specialist heart failure NPs - especially with all the literature showing better patient outcomes with nurse-run outpatient clinics! I am...

  22. VAD and the Nurse Practice Act

    augigi replied to nedanurse's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    Well thankfully VADs are getting better, as is patient selection so hopefully the days of 3:1 for a new VAD patient postoperatively are reducing! In my previous unit, which did a lot of VADs...

  23. Dobutrex

    augigi replied to TennRN2004's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    Trasylol does not prevent bypass-related histamine release and dilatation. IABPs do not cause vascular dilation, but mechanical manipulation of the Windkessel effect (aortic stretch). I am not basing...

  24. Tandem Heart.....

    augigi replied to CardioTrans's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    By the way, I should mention that I work for a VAD company (although not Levotronix, Abiomed, or Tandem

  25. Tandem Heart.....

    augigi replied to CardioTrans's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    They have done a lot of study into Tandem Hearts at Pittsburgh, where I was able to work for a while. They are easy to insert, easy to remove, and provide kind of "turbo-charged IABP" level support....