I was just wondering what everyone's policy is on wearing jewelry in the NICU. When I first started we were only able to wear our wedding bands, no watch or stones of any kind due to the grooves where...
minniemiteRN replied to Kaseyrn2b's topic in NICU, Neonatal
We had a 28wk trisomy 18 born to parents after several failed pregnancies and stillbirths. After extensive repeated counseling throughout course of stay parents wanted EVERYTHING done including HFOV...
minniemiteRN replied to Kaseyrn2b's topic in NICU, Neonatal
I unfortunately came across this book by accident while I was pg with my first and working as a new nurse in my large unit. We had just received a "funny" kid and were looking up his...
Sorry guys, this really isn't a NICU specific topic but I haven't posted anywhere but here before so I hope you don't mind... Question is: Do you have a weekend program and if so what are the...
minniemiteRN replied to minniemiteRN's topic in NICU, Neonatal
But you are able to take the PTO days you earn? See, the problem with my units program is not that we don't earn the appropriate amount of PTO, it is that we are only allowed to take 3 days a quarter...
minniemiteRN replied to nicurn3's topic in NICU, Neonatal
Exactly! How involved is your infectious disease dept in writing this protocol? Something tells me that if they were to get more involved and do what ours did when our "whiners" started up and break...
minniemiteRN replied to nicurn3's topic in NICU, Neonatal
I have two words to say about false nails in the NICU...NO WAY!!! Our staff are not allowed to wear them under any circumstance and random nail checks are done by coordinators to make sure that our...
minniemiteRN replied to dinkyandzen's topic in NICU, Neonatal
I'm so glad your daughter is doing well and your experience in the NICU was a good one. Congrats to you for getting into LVN school!:yelclap: We have 2 LPN's working in our unit that have been with us...
minniemiteRN replied to minniemiteRN's topic in NICU, Neonatal
I'm glad I'm not the only one who see's it that way. It would be a little hard not to have any PTO days for the first 6 mos in your unit though...but you don't have to stick to all the other...
minniemiteRN replied to minniemiteRN's topic in NICU, Neonatal
We switched to computer charting from paper about a year ago much to our dismay. We are "supposed" to be charting as we go but our charting system is Mckesson and it is VERY SLOW for one and two our...
minniemiteRN replied to minniemiteRN's topic in NICU, Neonatal
Actually we are seeing more and more MRSA as a community wide infection, not just solely a nosocomial infections anymore.:uhoh21: We swab each new admits nares as well as their parents for staph...
minniemiteRN replied to Tiny1Nisolet's topic in NICU, Neonatal
My favorite type of patient to take care of has changed. When I first came into the NICU I loved the high acuity of a micropreemie. I enjoyed taking care of the babies on the high frequency vents and...
minniemiteRN replied to minniemiteRN's topic in NICU, Neonatal
Thanks for the replies! I agree with the policy...just find it strange that parents and other visitors are able to wear as much jewelry as they want esp. since we don't know how well they are...
minniemiteRN replied to Lisa CCU RN's topic in NICU, Neonatal
I don't know about all units but I was hired into my unit after working med surg. I also know of units hiring GN's and training them. I've been working in a level III NICU for 3 yrs and have had no...
minniemiteRN replied to bbrown1's topic in NICU, Neonatal
Sure there are draw backs, but then again there are draw backs to almost everything. Parents can be difficult and its hard to watch a baby suffer, and even harder when a baby dies...though sometimes...
minniemiteRN replied to Kalico's topic in NICU, Neonatal
Congrats!!! I highly recommend asking how long your orientation will be and if you will be able to extend it if you feel the need. Also find out what the nurse to pt ratios are in both levels II and...
minniemiteRN replied to Ellen59's topic in NICU, Neonatal
The key here is practice makes perfect. Practice, practice, practice!! I worked in adults before coming to the NICU so I was more than a little terrified to start poking around on tiny preemie veins....
I agree completely. The unit I work in offers both full and part time positions. Time and again the nurses who are full time get a grasp on things much faster and are able to work more effectively...
minniemiteRN replied to luv-r-babies's topic in NICU, Neonatal
Our policy is 7 days, but since it was never being followed because how do you keep track of when the last day was that you changed out we picked a day and it just so happened to be wednesday. This...
minniemiteRN replied to Sweden's topic in NICU, Neonatal
We do use Kangaroo care in our unit but unfortunately not as much as in your unit. I have seen the wonders it can do for both mother and child but it is under the nurses descretion and whether it be...
I work in a level III unit with 45 beds but a general census of over 55-60. Our PICU is very small and being a trauma center their beds must stay open for critical patients therefore leaving our...
minniemiteRN replied to Ariel70113's topic in NICU, Neonatal
I work in a large level III NICU and we hire nursing students as techs but no CNA's. I too love having them as my eyes and ears when I can't be at my babies beside. One tech in particular I am sure...