texas2007

texas2007 BSN, RN

NICU

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All Content by texas2007

  1. Tips on Drawing from Arterial Line

    texas2007 replied to mslema's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We use the same type of "open" system OP describes. Have you tried letting it drip a little more before you take the sample? I was always taught at least 5 drops but I usually count to 7 just to make...

  2. Please be prepared for your interview...

    texas2007 replied to Larry77's topic in Emergency

    My strength is being a nurse in a clinical setting, it is what I do when I go to work. I am terrible at answering contrived scenario questions in an office setting, I only do that a handful of times a...

  3. Earliest viable gestational age?

    texas2007 replied to everthesame's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We get a lot of calls to transfer babies who are "24 weeks" or "26 weeks" etc. When our transport team gets there, it is quite obvious that the baby is no where near "26 weeks", more like 22 weeks...

  4. Low census anyone?

    texas2007 replied to Humbled_Nurse's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We've been slow since January-ish, about 20-30 babies below normal. People getting cancelled and floated left and right. Actually, it's not that we don't have admissions bc we do, it's just they dont...

  5. Do you let gastroschisis babies with silos be held?

    texas2007 replied to heymama1plus1's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Not here either. I'm too nervous to even weigh these kids with a bedscale muchless get them out of

  6. Gum Chewing

    texas2007 replied to NinetyNine's topic in General Nursing

    We're not allowed to chew gum at my hospital...it is a violation of the health dept. and you can be fined $250 if

  7. Neonatal Nurse Questionaire--PLEASE HELP ME OUT!

    texas2007 replied to tashadanielle1234321's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    what do you think the top 3 traits a neonatal nurse must have to excel? 1) ocd-like 2) not afraid to ask questions 3) good social skills to deal with families what do you enjoy most about being a...

  8. Pump problems and pressors?

    texas2007 replied to kitsune01's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Does your facility normally run Dopamine by itself? The only thing I can think of is that perhaps the line was starting to clot off (thus the pressure increasing alarm.) and then the clot cleared and...

  9. Newborn Blood Screening Protocol

    texas2007 replied to nurse2teach's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    If we have a line available to draw the lab from, we will use that. If a kid has a line, they probably have some lab to draw along with the screening as well like a blood gas or chemistry panel for...

  10. Help understanding monitors and apnea?

    texas2007 replied to WittleOnesRN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    At my facility, we set our alarms to alarm for apnea after 20 seconds. Now if a baby is apneic and doesn't self correct, the bradycardia alarm pretty much goes off before the apnea alarm ever does....

  11. when to stop humidity in the isolette

    texas2007 replied to denicu's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    You still have it going at 30%?? You must live in a low humidity climate! Our normal air here runs ~40% humidity (on a good day!) so when we get to that is when we turn it off. I've also occasionally...

  12. Early feeds...good idea or recipe for disaster???

    texas2007 replied to BabyLady's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    It could just be a coincidence too...I don't have any literature to back me up but I feel like I've seen several spontaneous perfs in fresh micros that had either never eaten or weren't eating at the...

  13. How low do you let your hemoglobins go before transfusing?

    texas2007 replied to iyqyqr's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We have different levels that we will transfuse for based on resp. needs, age, gestational age at birth, discharge expected soon. We go by Hematocrit, not hemoglobin. Generally, our room airs/cannulas...

  14. Formula / Breast Milk Fortification and Protein Supplements

    texas2007 replied to Sweeper933's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Our unit also has milk techs that make up all the special formulas and any fortified EBM daily. I think to make 24 cal EBM they will use HMF. To make 27 cal EBM, they will mix the 24 cal FEBM with 30...

  15. Giving report....how much information is necessary to pass on?????

    texas2007 replied to BabyLady's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I don't see anything wrong with how you gave report. I would have done the exact same. Heck, we don't even usually talk about a current PDA (or Apgars) unless it's a current concern (MD's thinking...

  16. Measuring urine output

    texas2007 replied to 3yrDiploma's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    You don't measure at all? Not even counting wet diapers?? I thought measuring output was a standard of care While our kids are on IV fluids, we weigh diapers. We aim for at least 1-2 ml/kg/hr; 3-5 is...

  17. Developmental positioning in Giraffe beds

    texas2007 replied to iyqyqr's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I had no idea those mattresses were supposed to do that. Sometimes we'll layer it so we have a bottom sheet, a sheepskin, then a blanket that the baby lays on, but we don't always have the sheepskin....

  18. Do you use isolette covers over your isolettes /giraffes?

    texas2007 replied to iyqyqr's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Ya I think ours are a bit on the small side. Sometimes even if it is centered on the isolette, I still have to bring it down on one side due to light shining on the baby's face from the next bedspace...

  19. 3 baby assignments

    texas2007 replied to MA Nurse's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I hear nothing but horror stories about that

  20. Monitoring system

    texas2007 replied to cymruusa's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Well, the charge nurse didn't know what to think, but at least she helped me find a new monitor. I'm not sure if management ever got wind of it since it happened in the wee hours of the morning during...

  21. Monitoring system

    texas2007 replied to cymruusa's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Did I tell you about the time a few weeks ago when I came back from lunch and discovered one of my monitors to be dead? As in pitch black, nothing on it. Luckily it happened with a stable RA...

  22. I can't handle it when kittens die...how can I be a nurse?

    texas2007 replied to cherubhipster's topic in General Nursing

    I have a hard time with animals, too. I would guess that you feel even worse because you have been "mom" to the kitten. I work in NICU and when a patient passes, it is usually (99% of the time), a...

  23. Gastric decompression in respiratory distress

    texas2007 replied to busyrn62's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Your

  24. Dual UVC catherter

    texas2007 replied to PremieOne's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We flush our unused ports with 0.5 or 1 ml (10 u/ml) of heparin q12, depending on the size of the

  25. Gavage Feeding Policy Revision

    texas2007 replied to nicunursejen's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    1) That's how I measure 2) We use common sense...smaller ogt for smaller babies. No specific weight. 3) I do like 1 ml, if I don't hear it then pull that out and put in a little more. I usually go...