mmsparkle

mmsparkle

ITU and Critical Care Outreach

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All Content by mmsparkle

  1. Neuro--tell me why you do/don't like it!!

    mmsparkle replied to irishnurse68's topic in Neuro Intensive Care, ICU

    Well, I've worked in NICU for 6 months now, and I'm loving it. The skills you need, the families you meet (funnily enough, I really enjoy that part), watching patients recover from seemingly...

  2. Neuro ICU - "how to test for pain response in comatose individuals

    mmsparkle replied to janwebsa's topic in Neuro Intensive Care, ICU

    (Now, as for assessing pain in an unresponsive, comatose or even expressively aphasic patient. We use a "Nonverbal pain assessment" scale, which is right on each of our VS screens. It assesses...

  3. Call yourself a nurse?

    mmsparkle replied to kittagirl's topic in General Nursing

    Oh Kittagirl, I would be *so* annoyed in your place. I'm a UK nurse who went the degree route...still paying off the loans 5 years later! Your colleague clearly knows she is wrong, as she changed her...

  4. Important Drug Tips!!

    mmsparkle replied to TigerGalLE's topic in General Nursing

    In one unit I worked in, NG feeds were stopped 2hours before and after giving (crushed) ciprofloxacin via NGT. Something to do with the the medication not mixing well with feed. In my current unit,...

  5. 2 drug errors in the last year

    mmsparkle posted a topic in General Nursing

    Hi guys. I made my second drug error within a year last night. Fortunately the patient was unharmed. I didn't even notice it myself, it was pointed out to me. Needless to say, I wrote it up on an...

  6. there's got to be a place for me...?

    mmsparkle replied to BandEmom's topic in General Nursing

    There are SO many options for you! Enjoy looking at them all and finding the right one for you. It's no bad thing to have tried a few areas of nursing before finding your niche! Good

  7. 2 drug errors in the last year

    mmsparkle replied to mmsparkle's topic in General Nursing

    Well, my thanks to all who answered me with such graciousness. I certainly felt better later. (The patient was fine). I have transferred to the new job now; it's an area where every IV drug gets...

  8. 2 drug errors in the last year

    mmsparkle replied to mmsparkle's topic in General Nursing

    Thank you all for all your replies and support. Darned right I'm extra careful now! INR wasn't even that high, warfarin had been withheld. Not sure why not FFP, prob because Vit K is cheaper. This IS...

  9. Christmas off duty

    mmsparkle replied to english_nurse's topic in International Nursing

    Hi! Not doing too badly myself. By offering to work night shifts over the unit Christmas party (bah humbug ;-) I finish nights on Christmas Eve morning, and get about a week off before coming back for...

  10. Neuro--tell me why you do/don't like it!!

    mmsparkle replied to irishnurse68's topic in Neuro Intensive Care, ICU

    People go into nursing for the pay? Where do you lot work??!! It's the worst paid professional job in England. Significantly lower than teachers, police, firefighters.... Not to mention the govt has...

  11. Okay WOW!

    mmsparkle replied to Antikigirl's topic in General Nursing

    Wow! I can only repeat what others have said, but congratulations! I hope you'll let us know how you enjoy your new role.

  12. Neurosurgical Resources

    mmsparkle replied to gwenith's topic in Neuro Intensive Care, ICU

    I'm looking around as I have an interview for Neuro ICU tomorrow! Wish me

  13. Please, I need some advice!

    mmsparkle replied to 5thflrnurse's topic in International Nursing

    I'd advise getting the job first, if at all possible! What area of nursing are you looking to go into? Some have more vacancies than others. Good

  14. student nurse fed up with the NHS

    mmsparkle replied to babes690's topic in International Nursing

    I completely agree. Keep faith, enjoy your nursing course, in three years time the situation will be different. Nursing in the NHS is a profoundly rewarding career, personally I won't leave it to go...

  15. What do nurses wear in the UK?

    mmsparkle replied to sunnyjohn's topic in International Nursing

    Not at all - there's a 50% discount on collection at Dominoes Pizza. Makes it all worthwhile, some

  16. How many patients are you assigned?

    mmsparkle replied to Little Panda RN's topic in Orthopedic

    Well, back when I was working on the wards, we'd have 7 (officially, usually 5 or 6) staff - max 4 qualified, for 32 patients. This was in the morning shift. The late shift and night shift had to...

  17. Neuro--tell me why you do/don't like it!!

    mmsparkle replied to irishnurse68's topic in Neuro Intensive Care, ICU

    What a good thread! Thank you all for your replies. I'm in a similar position to the OP, just applied for Neuro ICU/HDU job. I loved general ICU but was more than a little scared of the extra...

  18. Jobs in UK

    mmsparkle replied to uk_nurse's topic in International Nursing

    I can only agree. The job I'm in the process of writing a resume for, is a secondment opportunity. Now surely, 'borrowing' nurses from one area to staff another, is not the best way to improve care,...

  19. This site is too much

    mmsparkle replied to vamedic4's topic in General Nursing

    I can only agree. I think I'm

  20. Are 12 hour shifts terribly long?

    mmsparkle replied to tbahde's topic in General Nursing

    I also prefer 12 hour shifts. However I think it would depend on your work environment. When I was working on the wards, with 16 patients (32 if short-staffed) 8 hours was enough. I tried 14 hour...

  21. trach changes- how often??

    mmsparkle replied to mshnurse's topic in Pulmonary

    Hi Lisa, On my unit (Medical High Dependency) we use Shileys, which require changing every 3 months. The inner cannulae are cleaned 2 or 3x per shift. Portex tubes stay in for 1 week only. However in...

  22. What medical shows do you watch?

    mmsparkle replied to shellsgogreen's topic in General Students

    Totally agree - I love

  23. You know you work nights when.......

    mmsparkle replied to HM2VikingRN's topic in General Nursing

    When you can have breakfast when you get home from work, and again when you get up... Or maybe that's just me - I'm on internal rotation and work a week of nights each month. No woner I never know...