Sugarcoma RN

I agree with Esme, don't get hung up on the words, just get help when you need it. I respond to Rapids and codes and for each you will get an ICU rn, a doc, and an Rt. The only difference is a Crna will come to codes without being called. One of the ...

Hi only him. I am sorry I did not see this sooner and I hope you did not already have your interview. The last 2 interviews I have been on they have been really big on questions about conflict. Conflict with patients, coworkers, etc. For example ...

Correct me if I am wrong but what I took from your post is that maybe you are a little concerned that your new manager doesn't realize exactly how new you are? You were honest about your experience. Your manager knows your experience. If she expe...

This is great advice from icuRNmaggie!

This! Great advice from icuRNmaggie!!!!

You could give each student or couple of students mini case studies for different types of wounds. For instance: A pressure ulcer, an infected surgical site, an MVA with multiple skin abrasions, a vascular ulcer, an arterial ulcer, etc. You cou...

I did not read every comment, just the first few from OP. Yes I would have held lasix for a patient with a K+ of 2.9 when it was not addressed. Lasix will cause an even further drop in K+ and at 2.9 that patient really couldn't afford too much more...

I work in a combined trauma/neuro/cardiothoracic/surgical unit. Our hearts are 1:1 for the first 12 hours post op or until extubated. I think that is pretty standard for all open heart patients, although I have never worked in a strictly CTICU. Wi...

What you have chronicled has more to do with the work environment than anything else. You will find these on floors in hospitals, as well as LTC. When you have a chronically stressful environment where all employees are expected to do more than i...

One of the facilities I work contingent at just recently addressed this via a committee of med-surg, ED, and ICU RNs. Per that facilities new protocol the ER nurse is only responsible for transmitting patient's age, name, chief complaint, allergies,...

These are excellent points! I did not realize dilaudid and others narcs were available in 1 mg vials. I also routinely pull out a full vial because no one is available to waste. 1mg vials would really be convenient.

Wow! icuRNmaggie my stomach fell to the floor when I read this. I do this all the time. I always figure since I am going to pharmacy I might as well get whatever they have waiting to save others the trip. This NEVER occurred to me! Thank you for ...

I work in a combined ICU/SD unit. We take insulin,cardizem, nitro, cardene, and amio as stepdowns. Levophed buys you ICU status. Occasionally we will have that odd patient we just can't wean off levo who is on 2-4mcg as a stepdown. We do not use ...

I have worked with a few and personally precepted two of these know it all types. I enthusiastically agree with the poster/s who suggested you distance yourself from this person ASAP. I would most definitely speak with your manager about your conc...

Charting a physical assessment means physical assessment, not reviewed patient's chart. I work in ICU so I am familiar with how much time a doc may spend on an ICU patient. I fully understand that docs have huge demands on their time. I also under...

Roc takes 2 minutes for onset. Etomidate is 50-60 seconds with a duration of 3-5 minutes. I would be more worried about what was ordered for my patient following the intubation ie Fentanyl/Versed combo for comfort after the Etomidate wore off. Was ...

Yes this is common. Not only to med-surg but also the ICU. From both nursing and medicine. It is shocking and scary. I can do a full head to toe assessment in 5 minutes, I do not care how busy you are there is no excuse for not assessing. We can...

OP, I hear you and I am right there with you. I am only 5 years in and burnt to a crisp. I wish I had some wonderful words of wisdom for you, but alas I have none. I am still desperately searching for a way to "fill my bucket" but the dread of ...

I second the use of scopalamine or Robinul. It may be related to the propofol or another drug this patient is getting. 50 of propofol is a lot. This patient sounds like a good candidate for a different drug or a combo of drugs.

I would most definitely leave this off your resume. This was not your fault. A manager hired you knowing full well what your experience was and then expected you to transition smoothly to a new specialty with only 8 days of orientation? The failu...

NO! You are not being overly dramatic. This is one of my biggest pet peeves. No patient of mine will be off the monitor. This includes during the bed transfer! I always tell the transferring RN's don't you dare pull your equipment off until I ha...

I came on to try to further explain the IV advice, but after reading IVRUS's post, I think I need to research this. Definitely do not want to be doing anything that causes any damage!

Another tip: I am HORRIBLE at IV's! Like embarrassingly so. New grads on their 3rd IV start are better than me. I keep plugging away but after 5 years of effort and instruction from nurses with stellar IV skills, I just resigned myself to the fact...

For me, probably the most time consuming tasks are dealing with incontinent patients, bathing, bed changes, and dressing changes. I have developed a few strategies to make these faster. For bathing and bed changes I grab everything I need and then...

I just assumed my original post wasn't clear and needed clarification. I missed that (plaque vs thromboembolic) in the OP altogether. I guess that old saying is true. When you assume you make a donkey of yourself.