Love_2_Learn

I'm hearing something I've never heard of and need to know if there is research out there to support this issue. The issue is this: Does mixing formula and breast milk together in the same bottle or syringe change the composition of the milks and t...

Thanks for your reply and thoughts! I'm thinking of microscopic amounts of undiluted powder though. The filter needle filters out particles that are 5 microns in size; actually quite microscopic. It seems like the filter would only take out the te...

I know very well that the filter needles are always to be used when drawing up any medication from a glass ampule. Fully understand about microscopic glass shards and how they can cause problems. Now I am wondering if I should be using one to draw...

Working part time at a hospital will get your foot in the door and if you are a good employee (dependable, friendly, hard worker) you will probably get extra points when they decide to hire the recent new grads. Lots of student nurses work as secret...

We nurses are the last line of defense our patients have. Look up medication information, question doctor's orders, question the pharmacist, do whatever you need to in order to be your patients advocate. And like others have said, little Miss Pris...

Wonderful article! Thanks for sharing! I hope subee gets a chance to read it especially since anesthesia specialists recognized the problem first.

I don't know if its true, but I've heard that at the end of life people do not feel hungry like we do when we are healthy. It was explained to me in reference to my pets (no offense meant!) in how when they are at the end of their life they "go off ...

I'm honestly not familiar with the kangaroo pumps; don't think I've ever seen one but I've never worked in a pediatrics unit. Anyway, just wanted to say that when we put our breast milk on pumps we always make sure the syringe is in a horizontal pos...

I agree with NICU_babyRN's suggestion. You might also want to consider consulting with the dietitian for your unit since they probably would have some good evidence-based information and articles to share. I believe the American Dietetic Associatio...

I really learned a lot from the book, Newborn Intensive Care: What Every Parent Needs to Know Edited by Jeanette Zaichkin. The newest edition was published in October 2009. It's about $30 on Amazon. You may recognize Jeanette Zaichkin's name as sh...

Every 2 weeks. We don't use humidity. We have little sheets of paper which also have the NTE based on birth weight which is taped to the isolette and gives appropriate NTE for age as they grow...it's on this paper that we write the date to change t...

We use the Medela waterless breast milk warmers. They also can turn frozen milk into thawed milk or warm milk depending on what you want. It holds bottles and syringes of all sizes. We really like them a lot.

I've not worked on a med-surg floor for almost 20 years but remember how hectic it was. I have nothing to offer to help you but simply want to say how much I admire all of you and will be sure to send extra prayers and good wishes your way. It take...

Sounds like you have everything going in your favor. Honestly I can't think of a thing to share with you other than to be yourself. I'd hire you in a New York second. Keep your compassion and energy. Say your prayers and as you mentioned, God wil...

Just for clarification, if one of our babies has an og or ng tube in place and are allowed to bottle feed, we do check for residual before the feeding. This would be the case when the doctor orders something like, "Enfamil Premature 20 calorie with ...

I can't imagine you being fired for crying. As you mention you tend to be strong during emergencies like resuscitations this is true for pretty much all of us. In the heat of the moment we are all strong, level-headed, thinking hard and acting fast...

I may be wrong but my understanding that both the CNS and NNP (Clinical Nurse Specialist and Neonatal Nurse Practitioner) have Master's Degrees in Nursing. In most states they are both considered Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs). I have heard only a...

We have those comment codes on our glucometers too. If we don't put in the comment right away we have never been called on it. Like you said, once it turns off you are toast. Fortunately we have an intervention in our computer charting called "cri...

I suggest getting a job doing something like unit secretary or other clerical work at the hospital where the NICU is that you want to work. Just work part time like one or two shifts a week. I know lots of people who were given first choice when jo...

Thank you all for your replies. I agree with everything you all have said. I just can't find any information showing how the chemistry of the breast and formula milks actually change for the worse when blended together. I honestly don't think ther...

I can't speak to the ethics of your question; however, I remember working on a postpartum unit and mothers took Tylox and Percodan for pain and were sent home on these medications to use as needed for postpartum pain. The OB doctors said that the a...

My state accepts continuing education credits that are accepted by other states. I think most stare boards of nursing also do as well.

We use cows. I'd give my right eye tooth fo a hand held device!! Each patient needs their own computer for meds in my opinion. Not only for infection control but because hauling cows everywhere you go slows you down in a very major way and makes y...

Oops, there must have been an inadvertent misunderstanding of my post. We only use sterile water as test bottles to let a a baby show they can swallow a few sips before giving formula or breast milk po. Giving water with any sugar in it would defea...

If it's a PIV we generally heparin lock them. Lately we had a big baby who had difficult IV access and needed 10 days of antibiotics. Our neonatologist placed a PICC line and we ran UAC fluids (1/2 normal saline with 1 unit Heparin/mL) at 0.4 mL/hr...