littleneoRN

littleneoRN

NICU

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All Content by littleneoRN

  1. Smart pumps = Stupid pumps?

    littleneoRN replied to IvoryLena's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We flush our meds into the line, up to the total priming volume of the tubing. We then set the flush as the medication on the smart pumps. You've got to trick them.

  2. why bolus and bicarb?

    littleneoRN replied to IvoryLena's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Maintaining good perfusion is helpful in maintaining a neutral pH or correcting an acidosis. With all that 3rd spacing and insensible loss, this makes sense as a contribution to your gas, so fluid...

  3. Hospital Infant Security Systems

    littleneoRN replied to BABYRN916's topic in Ob/Gyn

    I know the posts were old, but I'm curious about the systems that go on the cord clamp. Don't your remove the cord clamp at 24 hours of age? Just curious how this

  4. In line suction on the ET

    littleneoRN replied to sofiam's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Love love love the Ballard. In addition to the positive things mentioned by others, you are saving a lot of cost and waste in sterile single use suctioning supplies. I have not experienced the...

  5. Being a NICU parent while working on the unit...

    littleneoRN replied to JoshuaAdamsRN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Elizabeth, Unfortunately, many babies stay in the NICU for weeks or months and some parents have to go back to work since their leave is exhausted. Or they want to save time off for when their baby...

  6. Closed system for ABG draws from UAC?

    littleneoRN replied to Bortaz's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    That's alright! Vermont Oxford is a network of NICUs that submit data on all kinds of patient care practices and outcomes. Then, the network can analyze variations in practice and see what are...

  7. Being a NICU parent while working on the unit...

    littleneoRN replied to JoshuaAdamsRN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We have been in this situation numerous times unfortunately. Would you consider using some of this FMLA so you can spend time supporting and caring for your wife after this difficult delivery and...

  8. Closed system for ABG draws from UAC?

    littleneoRN replied to Bortaz's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We use a closed system, and I love it! BTW, you'd be better off comparing your infection rate with other similar NICUs than other types of units in your hospital. It's kind of apples to oranges if...

  9. Potential MN Nurses Strike?

    littleneoRN replied to Brian's topic in Collective Bargaining, Union

    ConsultantNurse, One thing seems apparent in your words. That is that you are not a direct-care bedside staff nurse. I don't know who you are or where all your rhetoric comes from, but I do know...

  10. Do Not Hire

    littleneoRN replied to David Offenbaker's topic in First Year After Licensure

    I know the OP's situation is old, but here's something to know if you're a newer RN or LPN reading this. If you leave a position after a short period of time (which I would personally define as a...

  11. THings to get before beginning 1st job as an RN

    littleneoRN replied to fsv1024's topic in First Year After Licensure

    Your hospital might provide pill splitters. (They should!) And before you buy calipers, find out if it's your responsibility to read EKGs. These are the two things I'm not sure are pertinent for...

  12. Potential MN Nurses Strike?

    littleneoRN replied to Brian's topic in Collective Bargaining, Union

    Kitty, did you work the one day strike in

  13. Burned out with Level 3, should I go to Level 2?

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

    It might be just the change you need! One caveat, having worked Level II and III over my few years of experience. I generally found parents more intense in Level II. When babies are really sick in...

  14. Administering flush after a small volume med.

    littleneoRN replied to haiku's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We dilute small volume meds to 0.8 ml, the volume of our microbore medline tubing. The med is then hand flushed into the line, followed by a flush over the amount of time recommended for infusing the...

  15. venting...

    littleneoRN replied to scrabblern's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Are you a union facility? Do you have any method for safely lodging complaints of unsafe staffing. Your facility needs to have a backup plan for when you're that short staffed. This sounds like...

  16. saline flushes over infusion pump versus manual flush in peds

    littleneoRN replied to choarn's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    We do all our flushes off the pump. Reason being that while flushing you are continuing to infuse the medication that was still in the tubing and should do so at the appropriate infusion rate, not at...

  17. Potential MN Nurses Strike?

    littleneoRN replied to Brian's topic in Collective Bargaining, Union

    The unsafe staffing reports have been filed all along. But nurses don't have right to strike over unsafe staffing when the contract is in effect. THAT is why you're hearing about them now. I can...

  18. TPN/IL through UAC??

    littleneoRN replied to EarlyAdditionRN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Um...no. Just UAC flush fluids and in a rare emergent case, resuscitative medications when no other access is

  19. I just don't know if nursing is really for me

    littleneoRN replied to bumLVN's topic in First Year After Licensure

    I think your advice overall is good, but as a side note...I wouldn't suggest a Children's Hospital as a place to go if you're looking for something less intense and more light hearted. Um...kids get...

  20. Potential MN Nurses Strike?

    littleneoRN replied to Brian's topic in Collective Bargaining, Union

  21. Potential MN Nurses Strike?

    littleneoRN replied to Brian's topic in Collective Bargaining, Union

    Funny thing though, is that shared governance and unions serve pretty different functions where I come from. I work in a union facility that also has shared governance. Shared governance makes a...

  22. RT's Drawing from a UAC

    littleneoRN replied to megcourt's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    RTs don't draw labs in my unit. They run any point of care labs we need, do nebs and treatments, routine equipment checks, retape/reposition ETs, set up equipment, attend deliveries, help with trach...

  23. Music in the NICU- need your opinions

    littleneoRN replied to soleilrose's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We use music in our NICU. Babies should be greater than 35-36 weeks corrected age and very stable. We limit it to a certain amount of time per day, and we are only allowed to use selected...

  24. TPN - Peripheral vs Central

    littleneoRN replied to EricJRN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We consider several factors, including osmolarity, calcium content, and dextrose content. Those are the ones I know of, but the pharmacy deems what can be infused

  25. Did I make a judgement error in caring for terminal neonate??

    littleneoRN replied to neonurse28's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    You sound like a wonderful nurse! I don't think the NICU can afford to lose you.