jenadox

Hello! CVICU is for post CABG patients. Where I work, they will also take thoracotomies as overflow occasionally. CCU gets all of the acute MIs, flash pulmonary edema, post arrests from the floors, temporary pacers, PTCAs, pericardial windows, and those types of fun things. In the hospital where I moonlight with an agency, there is only a CCU and a SICU. The CABGs go to SICU. Hope that clears it up for you. Let us know what you decide about your internship! Good luck!

Dawn, In the CCU I work in we only do it once a shift(when we do cardiac output) unless: 1. There is an order specifying how often the MD wants it done 2. A change in the patient's condition warrents that it be checked ie, if you think they are going into pulmonary edema It is usually left up to us though. I personally don't wedge anymore than I have to for the exact reasons you mentioned above. Hope that helps some!

The nurses where I work NEVER d/c IABPs. The reason is reaaly simple...our licenses do not cover it:eek: I think that any nurse who does d/c an IABP, no matter how many years experience she has, is putting herself on the line. That's just my honest opinion, of course. Jena

I have tried many scopes, but the absolute best, IMO, is the Littman Master Cardiology. I prefer the shorter tubing because of less noise interference and because it doesn't get in my way when I bend down to do something:p Jena

I have the Critical Care Checkmate that JWRN mentioned and have found it to be a must-have in the CCU where I work. I ordered it from the website mentioned at a cost of $38.95 if I remember correctly. It has been worth every penny! Good luck on your move!

In the hospital where I work, IABPs are always 1:1. Contrary to a previous post, IABPs are NOT just another piece of equipment! A patient who extubates themselves can be bagged until another ETT can be placed. But a patient whose balloon ruptures their aorta as they are thrashing in bed is most likely not going to make to surgery for repair. I don't think that any patient on a pump should be considered stable. These patients are on the pump for a reason and they can go from seemimgly "stable" to extremely unstable in a matter of seconds. I had it happen to me last week! I agree with RNed. The administration would have a hard time proving that you were being insubordinate. I would definitely check into either having a policy written or revising what is already in place. Besides, would administration take the fall if something happened to the IABP patient while you were with patient #2? Surely they wouldn't go after your license, would they? Of course they would! [ June 17, 2001: Message edited by: jena25 ]