PrudenceNurse

Latest Activity

1. My Inspiration to Become a Nurse

   PrudenceNurse posted a topic in Nurses Rock

   I write fiction. I could compose a lovely story about the magnificent women who inspired me to become a nurse. I could tell you in poetic prose about their near-saintly lives, deep caring for their...

2. Pulse Oximetry

   PrudenceNurse replied to Sunlight-RN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

   In our unit, the Respiratory Therapists have NOTHING to do with the pulse oximetry. We are responsible for rotating sites and for adjusting FIO2,

3. HELP! Ostomy bag will NOT stay on!

   PrudenceNurse replied to Preemie2RN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

   How about the "Eakin ring"? It is a moldable pectin-based substance. You can roll it (like playdough) into a "snake" and then mold it around and between the stomas to form a flatter surface that bags...

4. Preceptorship in NICU - waste of time?

   PrudenceNurse replied to 3fins's topic in NICU, Neonatal

   Our Level 3/4 NICU does hire new grads, and we would probably be more likely to hire someone who had done an internship (or preceptorship as you called it) in our unit over someone who had

5. NG/OG tube verification policies

   PrudenceNurse replied to Sue Hinds's topic in NICU, Neonatal

   We don't have a written policy (perhaps we should), but we teach that aspiration is the best way to verify placement. Auscultation is not very accurate, especially in the micro-preemies, because if...

6. Skin care for Premature Neonates

   PrudenceNurse replied to wrighty's topic in NICU, Neonatal

   What exactly is a "bio-occlusive dressing"? Tegaderm? Please give more

7. Skin care for Premature Neonates

   PrudenceNurse replied to wrighty's topic in NICU, Neonatal

   We have Extremely Low Birthweight Guidelines that include: no leads; "soft touch" pulse ox probe with no adhesive; mist tent for 72 hours; after initial bath, water only (no cleanser) for two weeks;...

8. Starting off as a New Grad in the NICU--bad idea?

   PrudenceNurse replied to iDeftones's topic in NICU, Neonatal

   I started in a NICU as a new grad 27.5 years ago, and have no regrets. I would NEVER want to do any other kind of nursing. I have never had a problem finding a job in any part of the country. I got...

9. How often do you change clear fluids? Pressors in particular!

   PrudenceNurse replied to NICU_babyRN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

   We zero all fluids on pumps at midnight each

10. How often do you change clear fluids? Pressors in particular!

    PrudenceNurse replied to NICU_babyRN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We change all lines/tubing only twice a week on Saturdays and Wednesdays as a part of a CABSI initiative. New syringes/bags of course must be put up every day. For the extremely fragile baby on...

11. Feeding Protocols

    PrudenceNurse replied to HawkeyeRN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    One of our NNPs developed a great feeding protocol that the nurses "order" everyday after calculating volume based on mLs/kg/day. We have the same stops and starts with the micropreemie, but it has...

12. What to use on the nares to prevent breakdown of skin

    PrudenceNurse replied to wrighty's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We have the same problem with RTs in my unit. I do what you do--put on Duoderm and switch from prongs to mask frequently myself. The other compliance problem we have with the RTs is their refusal to...

13. What to use on the nares to prevent breakdown of skin

    PrudenceNurse replied to wrighty's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We actually DO use Duoderm, but we use the ExtraThin Duoderm that is "breathable". If you cut it into an inverted T shape you can put the horizontal part of the T over the philtrum and run the...

14. I NEED ADVICE on URINARY CATHETERS

    PrudenceNurse posted a topic in NICU, Neonatal

    What antiseptic is everyone using for insertion of urinary catheters? Betadine? Chloraprep? CHG handsoap? For daily care, just baby soap and water like a bath, or more antiseptic? Also, is anyone...

15. preventing CABSI

    PrudenceNurse posted a topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We are doing a quality improvement program in our NICU to decrease our Catheter Associated Blood Stream Infection rate. I would love any information from other units about how you do line changes and...