NotReady4PrimeTime RN

NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist

All Content by NotReady4PrimeTime

  1. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Stressed out new peds ER nurse

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to unpocodeam0r's topic in Pediatric

    I think there are some details missing here. D5W at a maintenance rate would not cause a child's "sugar to shoot up". But if the other nurse had continued running D5W at the bolus rate, that's a...
  2. NotReady4PrimeTime

    **POLL** New 1st Year RN Salary

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to Bell13's topic in First Year After Licensure

    Wow... The same single family home with a nice yard (like the one next door to me that's vacant right now - 3 bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths, detached garage and fenced yard) runs about $1750 a
  3. NotReady4PrimeTime

    g-jt and checking for residual in the jt port

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to virginia deskins's topic in Pediatric

    I'm with KelRN215 on this one. Because the JT empties into the small bowel there should BE no residuals. In fact, on my unit when we place NJ tubes blindly, one of the tests for proper placement is to...
  4. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Pseudo Munchausen parents...

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to wooh's topic in Pediatric

    MRI can't confirm or rule out seizures. But it can provide secondary gain to a "Munchy" mom. We've had several kids with normal MRIs who have very definite EEG-demonstrable seizures. By age 5 I would...
  5. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Shift work help.

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to frozenyogurt's topic in Canada

    From the first article: "One potential solution to safety issues associated with sleep deprivation is to encourage nurses to use their break times to take brief naps. Often known as restorative...
  6. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Pedi and NICU the same???

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to PediatricRNTX's topic in Pediatric

    My employer says that I'm employed by the hospital not by my unit, and therefore I should just do what I'm told and be happy I have a job. (Actually, I think they'd be ecstatic if they could send us...
  7. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Pedi and NICU the same???

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to PediatricRNTX's topic in Pediatric

    I suppose it would depend on what sort of patient assignment you're given. If all you're doing is feeding and diapering babies who need to grow or who are being treated for hyperbili, it's probably...
  8. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Move to Northern BC

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to Sandy82's topic in Canada

    Casuals don't accrue seniority in Alberta. In BC casuals do, based on hours worked in a fiscal year (up to the full-time equivalent) but this only comes into play when the casual employee becomes a...
  9. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Shift work help.

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to frozenyogurt's topic in Canada

    I'm not sure why we're dredging up a 2 year-old thread... It frustrates me that so many newly graduated and employed nurses immediately start complaining about working nights. It's as if they just...
  10. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Family zone in PICU pt rooms

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to bame rn's topic in PICU, Pediatric

    We're also undergoing a redevelopment of our PICU and our PCICU. Our hospital has gone so far overboard with the concept of family-centred care that it has become family-directed care, so I guarantee...
  11. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Special Care Nursery

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to HeartNursing3's topic in Pediatric

    My first hospital job was in a special care nursery. The babies there are the ones still not ready to go home but not sick enough to require ICU care. They're feeders-and-growers, babies with neonatal...
  12. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Leaving 1st job before 1 year

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to UpennRN's topic in First Year After Licensure

    There are a LOT of people who have no choice but to work rotating shifts (like me ). In areas where there's a largely unionized nursing population, the collective agreement will essentially insist...
  13. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Adult ICU to PICU??

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to llbCCRN's topic in PICU, Pediatric

    We use moderate hypothermia for kids too, with a target temp of 32-34°C for 24 or 48 hours post ROSC, then a 0.5°C increase every 4 hours to thermoneutral. Sometimes we don't do it, for example, if...
  14. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Adult ICU to PICU??

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to llbCCRN's topic in PICU, Pediatric

    ECPR is what we call a resus that ends with cannulation for ECMO. Our unit does it about twice, sometimes three times a month. Outcomes are generally acceptable - meaning a patient survives with a...
  15. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Second-Entry Nursing Programs - 2014 Hopeful

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to MatchaGreenTea's topic in Canada Nursing Programs

    It's extremely unlikely that schools compare notes in this way. They have way too much to do at this time of year to be bothered with checking who has accepted registration where. Okay, I was able...
  16. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Adult ICU to PICU??

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to llbCCRN's topic in PICU, Pediatric

    Does this unit have cardiac surgical patients? Ask to observe a sternal closure. If the hospital provides ECPR you should observe it in action. If you've never seen ICP monitoring established on the...
  17. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Adult ICU to PICU??

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to llbCCRN's topic in PICU, Pediatric

    Here are just a few of the previous threads on this topic. There's probably not a hole lot more to be said... https://allnurses.com/picu-nursing-pediatric/adult-icu-picu-445845.html...
  18. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Is it easy to take nclex in US but plan on maintaining Canadian residency?

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to Shyrinevendiola's topic in Nurse Registration

    I think your bigger problem is going to be that you didn't write the PRC exam. All provinces in Canada insist that applicants have passed the licensing exam where they received their education -at the...
  19. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Obtaining an RN job in a city in Canada directly after graduation

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to jgibeault's topic in Canada

    I think Saskatchewan is the only province where regular staff can give shifts to casuals. Here in Alberta, that would never fly. That's because if you get a casual to work your shift, they might not...
  20. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Obtaining an RN job in a city in Canada directly after graduation

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to jgibeault's topic in Canada

    On my unit it's the opposite, usually. Because our casuals often only work once or twice a month, they get the easy, straightforward patients because they just aren't able to maintain the skills they...
  21. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Obtaining an RN job in a city in Canada directly after graduation

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to jgibeault's topic in Canada

    I'd really like to change jobs for quite a few reasons, but because of personal limitations (spouse and son with significant chronic health problems) moving isn't an option. We have to live in the...
  22. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Obtaining an RN job in a city in Canada directly after graduation

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to jgibeault's topic in Canada

    Part of the issue in Alberta is that there's a huge disconnect between clinical and administrative. The people actually providing health care are seeing vacant positions going unfilled, sick calls not...
  23. NotReady4PrimeTime

    could RPNs and RNs here in Ontario practice profession fully as a volunteer?

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to jrcbtst's topic in Canada

    You can definitely use your volunteer work on your RPN program application to make you more attractive to the admissions office. Where it won't help you is in gaining employment, although it could be...
  24. NotReady4PrimeTime

    Complex Medicine?

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to alainaRN's topic in First Year After Licensure

    I work in a pediatric ICU where I'm surrounded by the most virulent of the virulent every shift. Pertussis, meningococcus, tuberculosis, H1N1, c. diff, VRE, MRSA, CMV, hepatitis... you name it and...
  25. NotReady4PrimeTime

    selected for QA; leaving profession

    NotReady4PrimeTime replied to mermaidsoup's topic in Canada

    I think you should be very careful about what you reveal to the CNO. Most of the colleges take a very harsh line on mental illness and the treatment often required by those with a mental illness....