mattcastens

Latest Activity

1. What Do You Want To Hear When Receiving Report?

   mattcastens replied to rebelwaclause's topic in General Nursing

   I used to have that problem until I said, "you're an intellegent nurse -- read it yourself." I also broke the habit by simply not using the flowsheet to give report -- I do it all off the top of my...

2. Question about gtt titration

   mattcastens replied to New CCU RN's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

   Usually the neighborhood of 30mcg is the upper limit. If you get that high, watch for tissue necrosis in the extremeites -- you can be they aren't being

3. Taking Call

   mattcastens replied to Kansas_RN's topic in Patient Safety Issues

   At our hospital there is no mandatory on call for us (unless a nurse works in OR, the cath lab, or other possible emergent areas). If the census drops we are asked if we would like to take call -- if...

4. An interesting question about product placement

   mattcastens replied to mattcastens's topic in General Nursing

   Here's another example: I was watching "Scrubs" last night and noticed that the Pyxis machines in the background had a huge "Pyxis" emblazoned on them. Honestly, who's this going to influence? It's...

5. Eecp

   mattcastens replied to sunnygirl272's topic in Cardiac

   Would it be used in conjunction with milrinone -- also used as an outpatient treatment for

6. Eecp

   mattcastens replied to sunnygirl272's topic in Cardiac

   I've only sort of heard about it. It's sort of a combination between MAST trousers and a balloon pump. The idea is that this inflatable suit (well... from the abdomen down, anyway) inflates rapidly...

7. New use for Tylenol?

   mattcastens posted a topic in General Nursing

   Occasionally I have run across old ladies that say they use Tylenol to help them sleep (not Tylenol P.M., mind you -- the regular stuff). I would always blow it off, thinking that it was all in their...

8. Hemodynamic leveling

   mattcastens replied to mattcastens's topic in Cardiac

   Um, I don't know about you, but I find it very easy to not shine the laser in people's eyes. Or we can all wear sunglasses and be "Joe (or Jolene) Cool

9. Hemodynamic leveling

   mattcastens replied to mattcastens's topic in Cardiac

   I'm currently doing the research on whats available. What I've been using in the meantime -- and might recommend to the unit -- is a $13 laser pointer from Target that I can easily place on the...

10. Telemetry newbie

    mattcastens replied to Amyi's topic in Cardiac

    Don't worry! You will get the hang of it. People learn at different rates, but eventually you'll be able to read a monitor or an ECG as easily as you're reading this. Start learning now! Get some...

11. Hemodynamic leveling

    mattcastens posted a topic in Cardiac

    Anybody out there use laser levels to level your PA catheters? If so, what company do you go through? I'm looking to contact some product reps, but haven't had any luck on the internet.

12. A squeaking heart

    mattcastens replied to mario_ragucci's topic in General Nursing

    Some of it is from experience, some of it is from studying, a lot of it is from asking questions. We are all continually

13. A squeaking heart

    mattcastens replied to mario_ragucci's topic in General Nursing

    Mario -- A couple of possibilities: 1. Transient heart murmer. Sometimes people get what are called "high output" murmurs. That is, when the heart starts pumping more blood than it is used to,...

14. Incident report happy nurse

    mattcastens replied to ohbet's topic in General Nursing

    I'd have to agree here, but i think it depends on your hospital culture. Where I work, no one is offended by an incident report, and much improvement has come of them from faster lab and pharmacy...

15. A question of code status

    mattcastens replied to gpip's topic in General Nursing

    You know, I attended a critical care symposium last week and listened to Tom Ahrens, CNS, PhD speak. (If you ever get the chance to attend one of his talks -- especially if you work in critical care...