RadRN2

I think this is what you are looking for. Its a great site! http://www.geocities.com/hobonurse/

We generally only check once prior to the procedure, after that just prn for any symptoms that may develop. Haven't had any problems (so far!) even with the more brittle people.

I live over in southeastern Idaho now but I did go to BSU to get my RN (LONG time ago!). I don't know of any program in Mt. Home, but I am pretty sure there is an LPN program in Boise as well. I would suggest calling BSU nursing dept. (or checking online). I'm sure they could help you. Good luck!! Go for it!

I work in radiology but the nurses don't place PICC's in my hosp, the Rads do. However, the nurses that work for most Home Health companies that specialize in IV therapy in our area are PICC-trained. I bet if you contacted any of your local Home Health agencies, they would be able to tell you where their nurses are trained. You might not have to travel far! Good luck!

I agree with the wise advice everyone has posted. I would also suggest talking with other nurses on your unit, ones who have been there awhile and are more experienced, ask for their guidance and suggestions. Find a mentor. *Most* nurses are glad to take someone new under their wing when asked.

I want to be wealthy enough to do what I WANT to do instead of what I HAVE to do!! Actually, in my next life, I want to be a great chef.

She's right. Don't put up with that crap! It's a slap in the face to you and your professionalism.

Whoa, passing thru......I wanna know where you work! I wanna go to the champagne party with the buffet and the band!! We get a $20 g. cert. for Xmas, free meal in the cafeteria for those working. Also, time and a half. Sometime between Thanksgiving and Xmas, they do a cafeteria-made free buffet at the hosp. For around 1200 employees, its kinda pricey I'll bet.

I've been involved in maybe two cases, nothing real recent. Both cases were done without distal protection, wasn't yet available. Both were cases surgeons didn't want to touch. We were lucky, both were successful. Pretty scary. Sure glad the protection devices are out now.

Sometimes we sedate but generally not, though, because the injections is so quick in most cases. They don't want to add the risk of sedation. We do tell people that they CAN take pain pills or muscle relaxers before they come in. We used to have an anesthesiologist who would schedule ESI's in our angio lab that she would do under fluoro -- she would generally SNOW her pts with Versed before she did the injection. That was nice for them, sometimes, but then they ended up with a 2-3 hr recovery time afterwards. I see some people VERY sensitive in their pain area, others not so much. I would ask alot of questions before you actually scheduled the procedure.

I haven't had an ESI but I work in radiology where our radiologists do LOTS of back and neck injections pretty much daily. I think I would certainly try injections before I would have surgery -- surgery would be last on my list. ESI's aren't a "cure", though. They can help relieve pain anywhere from days to months. Many people have them periodically for chronic problems. Complications CAN occur but I believe that there are by far more complications related to surgery. I know several different types of specialists give ESI's and other spine pain injections -- my own preference (of course, because I work there!) is to have a radiologist do it, or at least a physician who does it under fluoro in xray. That way, they can see exactly where they are before they inject. Some physicians inject without fluoro -- not safe. Anyway, although some people do not get relief, I still think if I were in severe chronic pain and was faced with either surgery or an ESI -- I would be getting the ESI. Hope I helped?

What's everybody's P&P for doing moderate sedation in particularly MRI? At my hosp., our policy has been reworked a million times but is still very frustrating and confusing! We are being told that it is a JCAHO requirement for a physician "to be in constant visual sight of the patient during initial and continued administration of meds" during moderate and deep sedation of patients. Generally not a problem because this often occurs during procedures that the Rad is there, anyway. But, when we need to sedate an adult for MRI who has failed oral sedation and needs IV meds, there is NO WAY the Rad wants to sit right there with us for a 30 min - 2 hr scan. We are considering having anesthesia do all these cases if we must comply with this statement. But, to us Rad nurses, it seems like an expensive overkill when we all are trained and feel comfortable with controlling moderate sedation WITHOUT the Rad having to be right there the whole time. What are you all doing? How do you feel about this, if it truly is a JCAHO requirement? Thanks!

Oh, yeah.... one more thought. Becoming PALS certified is pretty important if you have the responsibility of sedating children. Also, your anesthesia dept. can be very helpful in setting up protocols for sedation, recovery, etc. AS WELL as "encouraging" your radiologists to better educate themselves on sedation/analgesia. Sedation/analgesia is a very BIG concern of JCAHO!! OK, maybe that was 2 thoughts! Good luck!

We do not like to sedate kids for VCUG's in my dept (except for a few exceptions, like a history of sexual abuse, extremely hyperactive child, etc.) for several reasons. First, the actual catherization is (usually) very quick and uncomfortable but not painful, so we feel that sedation is generally unwarranted the same as you would not sedate before giving a shot. It also adds the risk factors of sedation itself when used, and, like you have found out, creates a necessary and sometimes lengthy recovery time afterwards when the pt would ordinarily just get to leave. Also, it makes it much harder (sometimes impossible) for the child to void when necessary as part of the exam. Both nursing and our radiologists are pretty adamant about NOT sedating. Before cathing, we nurses spend a fair amount of time talking with the child and parents so that everyone is pretty comfortable and informed about what we are doing. Also, once in a while when we have had to sedate, we have ended up with a MORE agitated child than what we started with as some of them will have an adverse reaction to Versed or Chloral Hydrate. I agree that this would be a good question to start a whole new thread about -- you would get alot more opinions from other experienced people.

I see nobody has responded to your questions. I don't use or have any experience with the WITT system, don't have it in radiology. Our cath lab does use it, though. I'll ask one of my friends up there to respond to your questions and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.