twinkletoes53

twinkletoes53

NICU

Member

  • Content

    202

  • Visitors

    12,977

  • Followers

    0

  • Likes

    5

All Content by twinkletoes53

  1. My first case of NEC

    twinkletoes53 replied to boardchic's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    NEC is one of the most dreaded complications that a premature infant can develop. I hate it with a passion. And you can do everything that you are supposed to do---monitor the infant closely, notify...

  2. And then the MD said.....

    twinkletoes53 replied to NurseOnAMotorcycle's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I've worked with innumerable doctors during my 35 year nursing career, but there are two that stand out. Dr. C was a resident 34 years ago, when I had first started my job. I worked in the...

  3. Nurses working on day off...

    twinkletoes53 replied to Brian's topic in Nurses Rock

    I knew my work phone #, and I have an answering machine. I never went in on my day off. I would sometimes trade days with other nurses, & volunteered to work holidays b/c I don't have family close...

  4. Mandatory Meeting With CNO

    twinkletoes53 replied to mindlor's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    In December 2010, I was forced to retire from nursing after 35 years, due to my deteriorating health, and now receive SSDI. I worked in the NICU for 31 years. When I left, we had 85 Level III beds....

  5. Newer NICU RN - question avout basics! Weights, baths, etc...

    twinkletoes53 replied to nicurabbott's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    When using a bedside scale, weigh a dry diaper on the scale, zero it, then place the baby wearing the same size diaper on the scale. Our NICU had a protocol based on infant weights; see if your NICU...

  6. Nurse understaffing associated with higher rates of NICU infection

    twinkletoes53 replied to TiffyRN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I posted a link to that article on my Facebook page, with a comment about how we as nurses have known this for years. I am no longer working, but the NICU I was in recently lost a significant number...

  7. My phone keeps going off at work...

    twinkletoes53 replied to Brian's topic in Nurses Rock

    No cell phones allowed in the NICU at all. Management used to allow staff to carry their cell phones in the unit I worked in. Then a nurse was caught texting on her phone while her arms were inside...

  8. Got into a car accident after working a night shift

    twinkletoes53 replied to BSNbeauty's topic in General Nursing

    I worked nights for over 20 years. You have a legitimate concern. Nights was my preferred shift, but there were still times when I left work praying I'd make it home in one piece, I was so tired. It...

  9. Pain management post open heart surgery?

    twinkletoes53 posted a topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    A very close relative had open heart surgery for an aortic valve replacement 2 days ago. She is 84 years old. She was extubated late the same day, and is now in the cardiac step down unit @ her...

  10. Does the ED stand for Emergency Department or the Everything Dumpster?

    twinkletoes53 replied to whichone'spink's topic in Emergency

    Is it because people with no insurance HAVE to be seen if they show up at the ER? I know so many patients who use the ER as their PCP. Which really sucks. It makes waiting time longer for everyone and...

  11. Funny/embarassing situations with the DR.

    twinkletoes53 replied to Anna-s's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    Oh my goodness that was

  12. What did you get for Christmas?

    twinkletoes53 replied to Brian's topic in Nurses Rock

    Come to Arkansas. We had a Christmas Day snow and ice storm that left hundreds of trees down and over 200,000 people without electricity. It was our first white Christmas in 80 years. Now, whoever was...

  13. Medication 20% Rule.

    twinkletoes53 replied to kv07's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    The point is that if you give a narcotic such as Fentanyl too rapidly, one of the side effects is chest wall rigidity. The infant cannot ventilate, and will desat. and brady. In our unit, we drew...

  14. New to NICU, but not nursing...

    twinkletoes53 replied to nicurabbott's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I came from a Level III NICU where all new employees were assigned a preceptor, and received 10 weeks of orientation. Depending on each person's experience, the orientation may be shortened. But it is...

  15. Hazed during orientation

    twinkletoes53 replied to flycat's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    That is not hazing, which is inappropriate in a professional environment, anyway. That is harrassment. It is unethical, unprofessional and absolutely not to be tolerated. I see that you have left...

  16. Who actually likes nursing??

    twinkletoes53 replied to mmcnabb3's topic in General Nursing

    I loved nursing. I worked at a pediatric hospital for 34½ years. I specialized in NICU nursing, and worked in that field for 30 years. Yes, I have posted on this website, and several of my...

  17. HELP! NRP Questions

    twinkletoes53 replied to NancyP123's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Why are you going to wait for the HR to drop before initating PPV? Baby is apneic>>>start PPV with bag;

  18. Fluctuating O2 sats in a preemie

    twinkletoes53 replied to krenee's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Preemies are notorious for desating all over the place. We had orders to wean above a certain pulse ox. limit; baby would be doing well until we reached a certain point. Some babies did well on Fi02...

  19. BP situation

    twinkletoes53 replied to Standoe3's topic in Medical-Surgical

    I would have felt more comfortable with having the MD write an order specifying something like "Patient's HR is 50; give Digoxin as ordered". Because if something untoward had happened to the patient,...

  20. NICU certification

    twinkletoes53 replied to NiteRocker's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I obtained my RNC in neonatal intensive care in Nov. 1990, because of personal interest in this field of nursing. NICU nursing has always been my first love, and I wanted to learn as much as I could...

  21. Is it made of acid? Fire? Cactus stickers?

    twinkletoes53 replied to Bortaz's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I think the babies object because they don't like having their arm held down where they can't move it if they want to. It may scare them a bit. If my baby fussed when his temp was taken, I didn't...

  22. New to Research Nursing

    twinkletoes53 replied to ToughingItOut's topic in Research

    I came from an NICU background, as you did. Although a research nurse does not do direct patient care, if you are going to examine possible enrollees in clinical trials, then it makes sense to...

  23. Pain management post open heart surgery?

    twinkletoes53 replied to twinkletoes53's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    I'd like to thank the people who responded to my note about post-operative pain management. I WAS very concerned about pain management in my grandma; she's the type that would say she was "fine" even...

  24. Neighbors, friends, and family coming by for nursing advice

    twinkletoes53 replied to Brian's topic in Nurses Rock

    Yup. Happened to me all the time. The worst offenders were family members. They would ask me about medications they'd been started on, or symptoms they were having, or...God help me ...start lifting...

  25. Is turning dying patients comfort care or not?

    twinkletoes53 replied to C0252786's topic in Hospice, Palliative

    Thank you for that response. Many years ago we had an infant in our NICU who was on comfort care, due to birth defects that were incompatible with life. She was dressed warmly, swaddled, and in a...