christen13

Hi everyone...Thanks for taking a look ? I am looking for a flow or as some nurses call it a "Brain sheet". Basically what I need is a worksheet to follow throughout my shift. We don't have a Kardex (well we do but it is never updated so we all use i...

I have worked in a sicu for several years and have seen the way RN's treat each other and I just don't understand why we are so critical of each other!! We have a tendency to act like "monday morning quarterbacks!"... Looking over the decisions tha...

It is not possible to have a true negative CVP!! You will see a negative reading on the monitor, but that is not the actual cvp....unless you have a MAJOR problem. Negative pressure in the vein....not good. Check the line, look at the waveform, lo...

Hi, I am a nurse in a much different specialty, I have a question that seems a bit "morbid" to me, and do need some help with it. I recently had a patient that delivered a stillborn infant at 37 weeks. She was encouraged to visit, hold the baby afte...

I agre with augigi, completely. By asking this question, you are showing that you "get it", and that is a great place to start!!! Hang in there, be kind to yourself!! I can assure you that you will make mistakes, and thank goodness ....... the key i...

We have no pay differential for a BSN or MSN, no differential for working in the ICU and no differential for CCRN

I need to respond because I think it is NOT ok, to treat someone badly and use the excuse that you work in a stressful environment. Doesn't that make it a bit more stressful!! Nurses sabotoge themselves constantly, and It is my biggest complaint abo...

Hi everyone... I have a couple questions regarding how your icu's do rn shift reports. I am looking for a way to improve our communication between the Rn's (the md's are a whole different issue :) Communication between all the members is so importan...

Thanks everyone...We are looking for a way to develop a Kardex (seperate from the chart) That higlights the specifics for that pt...drip rates, labs, drsg changes....just like the tool described that some of you use. I really believe this would cut...

I have found that the most effective way to deal with this is to appeal their inflated ego's. "help me understand........ " Is always a good choice. "What do you think about .." "I value your opionon......" We are the pt's advocate...ears, eyes and...

This thread is just what I was looking for, thanks ........... I have also been in critical care for 2 years, along with 10 years of nursing experience but am looking for a change. The old saying, "find your passion and do what you love!" is very tr...

thanks for the info on dilantin. We give it to ALL patients with a head injury....I have never seen a pt a seizure...but is this because it's working or they never needed it?? Guess we will never know... christen

HI rocknurse... I tried to PM you, guess you have too many messages?? let me know... christen

I am a STRONG advocate for my patients. I believe this is one of our primary responsibilies!! As far as putting my pt's at risk, I disagree with you. I have learned through exp that this is not putting them at risk....there are many situations tha...

I agree with MLSO. There is a high level of trust in our facility between the RNs....there has NEVER been a sitation where a pt was given the wrong med when another RN drew it up. I think it is very wasteful and unrealistic to waste 75mcg of fentan...

The only instance I can think of where this would occur in my setting is Fentanyl or another med in a vial that has to be broken open - obviously the entire contents will be drawn up and if 50mcg is given I can see a situation with a syringe with the...

OK guys....I think you are going a little to far with not giving meds the pharmacy drew up. As far as the example of the pharmacy sending up the wrong med..of course this happens!! The pharmacist are people like the rest of us!!! I think that was g...

I agree with all of you, I am just telling you that this is customary in our unit. We do label all syringes and I would not administer if it was not labeled by the prior RN. I will think about your comments :)

Hey all, I do give injections that others have drawn. I know this is a no-no, they drilled it in our heads never to do this in nursing school. But as you all know ... nursing school typically does not show us the "real world". I think in nursing sc...

Thanks so much roxanrn2003.... I would love to check them out Thanks again, christen.

You are correct...phenytoin may only be pushed with NS...you will get a precipate....trust me on this one, I learned the hard way :) In addition, it can be given as a slow inital bolus but is called phosphenytion (not sure about the spelling) via IV...