jenadox

I am going to apply soon to take my CCRN. I have been a nurse in a step down telemetry unit for four years and have been in CCU for the last 6 months. I have ordered a few books for review. I have been thinking of ordering one of the crash review cou...

I love critical care, but am also a big advocate of getting some floor experience before trying it. I worked on a step down telemetry floor before moving to CCU and I honestly don't know how well I would have done otherwise. I really didn't realize h...

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 th...

I reeally wish I could help, but I am with Karen...I am not sure what a sluice room is either. Hope everything turns out okay.

Nightngale, Congrats to you! I also took the test in October so I sympathize with you completely. Did they have to wait the full 8 weeks to send the results? I have been checking and rechecking the mail for about two weeks now I started signing RNC...

I sent you a PM. Your instructor sucks big time! I hope that you can make some sense of my answer! :chuckle

I had EP studies and it was not bad at all. I had the same experience. I tried Tenormin, Zebeta, and Lopressor, but all of them dropped my blood pressure into the 70's. I finally let my cardiologist tlak me into th EPS. They did the ablation and I ha...

In the hospital where I work, a nurse can get pulled anywhere, but there are limitations on what they can do in each area. OB/LD/NY nurses act as PCAs when they come to the floors or units. They get VS, blood sugars, pass ice. Some think that it is d...

It definitely sounds like malpractice to me. Before getting a lawyer, I would write a letter to your dentist explaining everything from your dental appt with him up to the present. Let him know that you feel like all of this stems from his lack of an...

Yep, we get those, too. Of course, they always come over the fax at 2 or 3 in the morning. If they were so legit, why aren't any of these offers in any of the nursing mags? I know some of them have good career sections, but no scab offers And call...

Hey John! I have the pocket sized Critical Care reference guide. It has the new guidelines in a handy spiral bound waterproof book. It also has a wealth of other good info in it such as vent modes, IABP waveforms, hemodynamic monitoring info, and the...

I got a copy of the Laura Gaseris tapes and love them! As a matter of fact, many of the nurses who aren't even going to take the CCRN are listening to the tapes because they are so helpful. I wish that I had gotten them earlier! Thanks for the help ...

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 ...

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 ...

I agree with John William. List the types of patients you have worked with and the places you have worked. The person will probably ask you more specific questions during your interview. I myself am not sure what basic skills you must be able to do w...

Jane, I haven't noticed any increase in site problems with amiodarone infusions. We only use 18g when we have to, we prefer 20g. These smaller catheters seem to last longer for us. Maybe you could try using 20g unless you think the person is tauma p...

My hospital has a critical care orientation class that is separate from regular hospital orientation. During the class, they have a skills lab set up. Believe me, it is much easier to zero an A line for the first time when there isn't a pt hooked to ...

I was already working on my temporary license when I took the boards. I really threw myself into learning all that I could at work. I didn't talk about it to anyone...kind of out of sight, out if mind, you know? Relax. I know how hard it is to do, bu...

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

thanks dawn! i got a book called pass ccrn and it has a lot of great study tips in the first chapter. i am working on these right now. i will check out the book you mentioned by ahearn. i think i have seen it before. i appreciate your advice :)

I agree with Jeanie. I would definitely start out on a floor before moving to the OR. My first position was on a cardiac step down unit and I found out how much I really didn't learn in school LOL. You may end finding a specialty other than OR that y...

I agree with Jeanie. I would definitely start out on a floor before moving to the OR. My first position was on a cardiac step down unit and I found out how much I really didn't learn in school LOL. You may end finding a specialty other than OR that y...

We use Aramine quite regularly at the hospital where I work. Many of the cardiologists have it in their standing orders that we can give one milligram before calling them for profound hypotension.

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 ...

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 the...