kidsccrn

Thanks everyone for the info. Keeshadawn,don't get me wrong I never trust a parent to be responsible for an intubated kid but a lot of parents flip out if the kid moves at all (and scream for a nurse) so that can be helpful to at least know if the kid moves while I am in with another kid. I to am an oldie who works nights and loves it when the parents go out to the waiting room or to RMH to sleep. I'm just getting too old to climb over people to get to their child!! When they park in front of the IV pumps or monitor:yeah:. I would love to have 1:1 on intubated kids with our staffing levels that will not happen. We use fentanyl gtts some versed gtts. Mostly use PRN versed/ativan and vecuronium for the wild ones,ARDS on high PEEP and ventilated fresh trachs.I'm glad to heard I'm not the only one nervous about private rooms. I love the open unit with curtains so I can see all the kids. Just one more change we will have to deal with:) I love the kid that very quietly sits up with an ETT. What a way to get the adrenaline flowing!!!!! We now have a very low self extubation rate I want to keep it that way. What do you do with parents during rounds? I work in a teaching hospital.

Hi, Just a question for all you PICU nurses. We will be moving to our new Children's Hospital soon, the setup is scarey to us oldies. The unit is all individual rooms no windows between rooms (parent group did not want any). Of course the nurses are nervous it will be a big change. We now have an open floor plan with 2 isolation rooms but have a window between the 2 rooms. We will have a nurses "mini station" between two rooms which will have windows to visualize from the hallway. Our concern is what happens if you are in with your other patient and the other kid is intubated and tries to bolt etc. I'm trying to stay optimistic so my question is does anyone else have this setup? (It will be a 15 bed unit ) How do you guys sedate ventilated kids drip/prn? I think it will be ok on days because the parents will be awake at the bedside. What about night shift when the parents are sleeping? Parents will be sleeping in the room on a pull out bed. I'd appreciate any ideas and what is working or not working for you. Thanks

Yes it should be a felony and in NY it is. I was assaulted by a pt.(17 yr old high on cocaine) a little over 2 yrs. ago. I was out of work for almost a year. He tore the ligaments in my wrist of course my dominant hand. I was covered by workers comp. I did press charges!!! The biggest problem I have is PTDS I left the ED (Peds) because I would have panic attacks if anyone started yelling etc. I still live in fear because his mother threated to come back with a gun and take me out. Security said not to worry she was just blowing off her mouth! I went back to my safe home PICU and feel much better. But I still watch my back.

I can't believe I'm actually writing this but I'm hoping it may be therapeutic for me. I am the victim of an assault by a pt. I have been out of work since the day after christmas due to a torn TFCC which I just received approval from comp. for surgery. My MD told me I have a permanent injury that he can only try to make it functional enough to work, the next step will be some kind of ligament transplant. Oh did I also mention this is my dominant hand!!! Anyways this was a 17yo punk who swallowed a bag of cocaine while being arrested. He arrived in custody but was then given an appearance ticket because the police did not have the evidence and did not want to wait for it. After they left the fun began, mom arrived demanding to take him home. To make a long story short CPS got involved d/t his age and said we had to keep him. 6 security officers took him down put him in 4 pt leathers I went to give him sedation IV he broke out of the restraint grabbed my arm threatened to kill me I went to the floor hanging by my twisted arm! The mother threatened to come back with a gun to take me out, and told me to watch my back. Oh did I mention he is a gang member and has been shot 3 times. I am scared to death to go back I did press charges and asked for a restraining order (which I still have not gotten). The hospital has not been at all supportive as a matter of fact they put me in the float pool!!! I have been a nurse for 30 years at this hospital and I have never been so scared to leave my home as I am now. Until admin. wakes up and admits we are always in danger and take these threats seriously this is going to continue. I called EAP they talked to me on the phone and said I need to see a councilor at my expense- I know the drill what I need is a safe working environment! I know I have PTDS who wouldn't I thought he was going to kill me and would have if security had not pulled him off. I think we should be allowed to tazer (? sp.)!!! So what I say to all nurses take every threat seriously and report it to have a record of it. It is a felony to assault a health care worker. Please protect yourself from the crazy people out in the world. Sorry this is so long

Hi, I'm not sure where to start but here goes. I have been a peds nurse for 26 yrs. NICU, PICU, Peds ED and homecare.So I have seen a spectrum of reactions with parents of a special needs child. Don't try to analyze how parents react it is so individual just listen- that is worth more then any advice you can give. I am also the mother of a now 23 yr old (ex-premie ) who is disabled both mentally and physically. She is ambulatory but uses a wheelchair for long distances. At 16 she had complications from a nissen fundoplication and now has G-Tube fdgs at night and nursing at night. She is a beautiful young women and is loved by everyone she has contact with but will always be dependent. I have run the spectrum of emotions and everytime we had to add some kind of support it was a greiving process, you see to us it is just another way we have failed. I still greive for the beautiful women she could have been. I do not want someone telling me how to feel or tell me that I should be over it by now. Every milestone has been a triumph but it has been a long road. I am tired and I now have people to help me but it has taken me a long time to get to that point. I now accept the fact that no matter how much we do she is never going to be "normal" what ever that means.We love her unconditionally and we are blessed to have her, but I also have a right to feel cheated, angry, sad and happy. Sorry this is so long but you need to know there is not a book of etiquette for parents to follow when they are being told there child has CP etc. Everyone is an individual just listen even if it doesn't make sense. The next day things might seem different after they have a chance to let it sink in.

Hi Fran Hazinski's is still the best out there. As a matter of fact I was just looking something up in it today! Good luck! Lynn