twinkletoes53

twinkletoes53

NICU

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All Content by twinkletoes53

  1. Does anyone use biodiscs on their piccs, umbilical lines?

    twinkletoes53 replied to BittyBabyGrower's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    a biodisc is a small round foam disc that is impregnated with chlorhexidine on one side. you place the chorhexidine site directly over the catheter insertion site when you are doing dressing changes....

  2. pain management in infants with chest tubes

    twinkletoes53 replied to dopeyrn's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We have the same problem with our docs. being OK with giving narcotics while the infant is intubated; but once the ETT is out...they seem to think that the babies are no longer in pain. Document your...

  3. Does anyone use biodiscs on their piccs, umbilical lines?

    twinkletoes53 replied to BittyBabyGrower's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    No, we only use them on our CVLs (Broviac

  4. Funny/happy NICU moments needed

    twinkletoes53 replied to 2curlygirls's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Last night I was caring for a 2 week old, ex-33 week gestation baby, who had been diagnosed with a VSD at birth. He had been discharged home from his birth hospital after 10 days, but had started...

  5. Ett suction preterms

    twinkletoes53 replied to johan john's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I suction my baby once with my initial assesment, to verify patency of the ETT, and to make sure that it isn't being partially blocked by secretions. After that, the baby is suctioned strictly on a...

  6. I hate NEC

    twinkletoes53 replied to Sweeper933's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I am so sorry. I hate NEC, too. More than any other illness I have encountered. I have seen one of my babies, a 36 weeker, go from being completely asymptomatic, on full feeds in an Isolette, to dying...

  7. Is there ANY department in nursing that I can avoid cleaning up poo?

    twinkletoes53 replied to Future-nurse's topic in General Nursing

    If you have that much of an aversion to cleaning up poo, are you sure that Nursing is the right profession for you? If the answer is 'yes', maybe you can focus on Nursing Research only. BTW, I work in...

  8. You know you work nights when.......

    twinkletoes53 replied to HM2VikingRN's topic in General Nursing

    I especially love doing this when I hear that the night I'm off is a 'night from hell'. And I missed

  9. Does anyone else like working night shift besides me?

    twinkletoes53 replied to Joyfullme's topic in General Nursing

    I have worked the night shift for almost 25 years now, and absolutely love it, and would never consider moving to days. I work in an 80+ bed NICU. I've worked day shift, and 3-11, and feel like I am...

  10. Parents that make you go MMMMrgh!

    twinkletoes53 replied to danissa's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We allow sibling visitation in our NICU, starting at the ager of 2 1/2. Visiting is strictly controlled, especially for the younger siblings. We also have a very large box of supplies that was put...

  11. Triple Arthrodesis right ankle---HELP please

    twinkletoes53 posted a topic in Orthopedic

    I have been told by 3 doctors that I need to have a triple arthrodesis of my right ankle, second to end-stage PTTD. THis occurred as a result of complications from osteoarthritis. I have already had...

  12. Neonatal blood sugar checks

    twinkletoes53 replied to NurseBean's topic in Ob/Gyn

    We use lancets that are designed for use in newborns. They are automatic puncture devices which limit the depth of the puncture to 1 millimeter (mm.) in term babies. We use a shorter lancet to draw...

  13. Anyone heard of VADER(sp?)'s Syndrome?

    twinkletoes53 replied to lhawes73's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    It is callled VATER association, or VACTERL association. The letters stand for Vertebral anomalies Anal Atresia ( imperforate orifice) Cardiac anomalies Tracheo-Esophageal fistula Renal anomalies...

  14. Units w/Private Rooms

    twinkletoes53 replied to ScammRNC's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    this is a link to a site about the "angels" program in the nicu at the university of arkansas medical center in little rock. it is a program that provides webcams at bedsides of their nicu babies, for...

  15. Need some ideas RE: external NICU appearance

    twinkletoes53 posted a topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We are expanding and adding another wing to our existing NICU. Currently, all the walls are pretty bare, and very "institutional" looking. I'm a member of our FCC committee. One thing I was interested...

  16. Phototherapy

    twinkletoes53 replied to dmsdms's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    we don't use them in our nicu, but i have read of them being advocated in an online article i read on phototherapy. also, placing white sheets around the bed reflect lights back onto the baby, as well...

  17. Do your parents have to wear cover gowns when visiting?

    twinkletoes53 replied to Love_2_Learn's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Yes, all parents that come in to our unit put on a cover gown first. With babies in Isolation, we don't ask the family to put on the disposable gowns we wear as staff; they just need to wash their...

  18. Nurses with disabilities

    twinkletoes53 replied to zipcat's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Can anyone help me? I have severe degenerative arthritis, that I was diagnosed with 9 years ago. I have had bilateral total knee replacements, and in Nov. I face surgery to fuse 3 bones in my right...

  19. vein viewer

    twinkletoes53 replied to pedrn's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We have both the larger transilluminator on wheels, and a couple of the portable ones in our NICU. We are a 70+ bed unit, so they are put into use frequently. Our MDs, and NNPs use them to...

  20. How do YOU feel about scalp IVs?

    twinkletoes53 replied to dawngloves's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I work in a NICU in a teaching hospital, so we have only infants in our unit. However, I have started a scalp IV in one of our "chronic" babies, who was 7 months old. It was a last resort on...

  21. How do YOU feel about scalp IVs?

    twinkletoes53 replied to dawngloves's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    When starting IVs, I will look at an infant's hands and feet first, but if I don't see any vein that I think I can get in easily, I will start looking at their scalp. Why stick a poor baby six or...

  22. ever use a 'Zaky'?

    twinkletoes53 replied to wee one rn's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We have had babies transfered into our unit with a Zaky, which are used in some hospitals. Personally, I don't care for the flesh color I've seen. Very creepy. I did have a Mom tell me that she liked...

  23. Please tell me when you started doing charge

    twinkletoes53 replied to MA Nurse's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I started working in 1976, and was in our children's hospital for 1 1/2 years as a med-surg. floor nurse, then 2 1/2 years in PICU. I started doing charge on those floors a year after working on them....

  24. iv push benadryl

    twinkletoes53 replied to HyperRNRachel's topic in General Nursing

    As an inpatient, I have had to have IV push Benadryl given for an allergic reaction I was having to a medication. It burned very badly going in and I asked the RN giving the med. to please slow it...

  25. new ER nurse needs advice on IV therapy

    twinkletoes53 replied to Anagray's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I always start at the most distal vein possible, and then look further up the extremity. For example, I will attempt to start an IV in a baby's hand before sticking the antecubital vein. That way, if...