Hannahrn

Personally, I haven't seen a jet vent since I worked in a NICU in NJ 13 years ago! Since then, I have worked in many institutions across the country & no one else used a jet. I couldn't even begin to know what the difference is; however I have heard the jet is a very old technology & the HFOV is the current way to go. Curious...where do you work (generally, like the state or country)?

Would like some input on how & why you do this: Checking residuals..... On a baby that is not nippling all feeds, but is nippling some, WHEN do you check for residual? For example, if the baby can nipple every other feed & finished the nipple feed without needing to gavage the remainder, do you check for residual prior to the next feed? Or, if the baby nipples 1/2 of the feed & gavages the remainder, do you check residual prior to the next feed? Early in my career, I seem to remember being taught NOT to check residual if the baby nippled anything at all during the previous feeding. thanks!

hi, please fill me in on how you institute safe sleep practices in your nicu? how do you address the developmental needs of the preemie and still model safe sleep? any specific policies in place? any specific program you have instituted? thanks!

Hi all, I hope this isn't inappropriate or too gory, but today some co-workers of mine told me a story about a decapitation that occurred during breech delivery when the cervix clamped down on the baby's head! I was horrfied & did not know this could ever happen! I have been to thousands of deliveries & seen some crazy things, but nothing like this! I was wondering if anyone else knows more about this or things like this, or other complications that can happen w/breech delivery, forceps, etc.

Hi...I tried Delectable dinners in HR off of County Line Rd...that was good & they even have a room for kids to play so you can do your thing in their "kitchen". Also tried Dinner N' Dash, right down the road from my home & epxected the same quality. The food (mostly crock pot meals) were awful! What a waste of $$. I've also heard super suppers is good.Many of the nurses I work with use these places, so I guess it's pretty popular.

I hope someone can clarify something that has been bothering me b/c I feel like I should know this and I am too embarassed to ask except here... Can someone clearly explain what it means when the baby/mother is a "set up" with regard to jaundice, ABO incompatability, etc. I have heard this term used & it has something to do with when the mom is a certain blood type and it puts the baby at risk for jaundice. But I never totally understood that. I have also heard the term "set up" with regard to GBS...can someone explain that too? Thanks so much. I feel like after so many years doing this, I have forgotten things & need a refresher and/or never learned something correctly and am too ashamed to ask at this late stage...:imbar

Hi, I will be driving from so Cal to Denver in about a month, in a 24 ft. rental truck. Can anyone advise me on the best way to go? I know I-70 would be quicker through the rockies, but are the roads treacherous? SHould I opt for dring through Albuquerque and then up the I-25 to Denver? Thanks...

Hi, I will be driving from so Cal to Denver in about a month, in a 24 ft. rental truck. Can anyone advise me on the best way to go? I know I-70 would be quicker through the rockies, but are the roads treacherous? SHould I opt for dring through Albuquerque and then up the I-25 to Denver? Thanks...

Hi! I'm an RN but work in NICU, a far cry from Nephrology! Wondering if anyone can offer some advice/resources for me. I was just diagnosed with IgA nephropathy. My nephrologist acted like it wasn't a big deal, just prescribed fish oil and informed me that I will need to be followed for the rest of my life. And, that since it was caught early, I will likely be ok. However, I am reading up on the internet, seems like this progresses to ESRD quite frequently. What is your experience with this and what resources do you reccomend for me? Any info is greatly appreciated...

OK, have you looked into CHOC - at Mission? Send me a private message and we can "talk", I just don't want to post all my info here.

Hi...I work in a NICU in Orange County, and as the NICU nursing world is very small, I have heard lots through colleagues who have or are working there now. Seems like it's a large, busy unit. If you are familiar with all that goes along with that, then you'll know what the unit is like. Are you currently looking for a job? Where do you live? If you're interested, I love the unit I work in...I can give you more info...

Hi! My husband and I are very strongly considering moving to Denver as well and I am also researching the possibilities for employment there. I am not sure if I am going to take a travel assignment or permanent position yet. I did contact American Mobile and they told me there are rarely travel opportunities in Denver. Not sure about other CO areas. I've traveled before so am familiar with the process. How about you? What is your specialty? Where are you living now?

placing the probe in the axilla works well of fat babies. actually, placing the probe in the axilla is contraindicated due to the presence of brown fat there...you can get a false high reading if the baby's core temp is low & they are burning brown fat to warm up, thus making the axillary temp read higher. also, to clarify what i wrote previously, the liver is supposedly an area with increased blood flow/metabolic activity which makes the temp coorelate closer with the core temp. therefore, it is the preferred place for a temp probe. has anyone else heard of this or has any further info?

when i first started in nicu, i learned that over the liver was the best place for the temp probe since that area will have the closest reading to core body temp. the place i work currently avoids over the liver! what do you all do out there???

It's probably a good idea to do a rectal once upon admission to make sure that the rectum is patent (r/o imperforate orifice), unless the baby has already passed stool, then axillary is fine. As for blood sugar -ONLY if there are risk factors. A normal newborn's blood sugar should not be an issue.

If there is anything that I have learned about being on the receiving end of poor behavior, it is: if you DO NOT allow it happen...stand up for yourself... don't put up with it, and TALK BACK...they will (99% of the time), BACK OFF AND NEVER TREAT YOU LIKE THAT AGAIN. That person treats you poorly because they think they can get away with it. If you show them that won't happen with you, they will know better next time. Believe me, I have been in this situation. It took so much reaching deep down inside me to pull out some assertiveness the first time it happened but there was an MD being downright MEAN to me, in front of a patient's family-no less, and I got my guts together and told myself-WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS???!!! :angryfire I AM NOT GOING TO PUT UP WITH THIS...then WHAMMO! Out came my inner strength and I told him where to go. Now he did not back down right away, but neither did I...and guess what? That was 4 years ago and he has been sugary sweet nice to me ever since. Shortly after our "fight" he profusely apologized over and over again. Nowadays - even if he is in a rotten mood to everyone else - HE'S NOT TO ME!! And guess what, the next time I ran into a rude and obnoxious MD, it didn't take so much reaching deep down inside, the assertiveness was right there. On a side note, when the first incident happened, another nurse said, "oh, I wouldn't have argued back. I just ignore that behavior". So that made me feel like maybe I shouldn't have fought back. I second guessed myself over and over. :uhoh21: Finally I came to the realization that NO! SHE is wrong! Why should I let someone treat me like that? It is NOT OK to go around treating people like scum, I don't care who you are...so my advice is, stand up for yourself - you do not deserve that and you will be grateful & proud that you did in the end.

i posted this under the legal nursing board, then i thought to post here as well, thinking this has probably happened to other nicu nurses ...curious to know your experience/advice... hope someone can help answer this ?...i am an rn in the neonatal icu. there are times when parents of our former patients ask us to help with the care of their baby in thier home in exchange for money. this is "under the table" and not arranged through the hospital in which we work at all. specifically, a parent of former preemie twins recently asked if anyone would be willing to come to their home and do the overnight care/feedings for the twins because they were so desperate for sleep. they said they would make it "worth our while" in terms of money. one of the twins is still on o2. it seems as though the parents just need a babysitter or nanny, not necessarily a nurse, but since they are so comfortable with us after caring for their babies for 3+ months, they are asking for our help & money is not an issue with them. what are the legal implications of this? would we be performing under our nursing license if we accepted this under-the-table job, even though it is more like a babysitting job...just to feed the kids overnight. what if something went wrong? after all, one of them is still requiring o2! what is the appropriate way to go about this? thanks for any info..

Hope someone can help answer this ?...I am an RN in the Neonatal ICU. THere are times when parents of our former patients ask us to help with the care of their baby in thier home in exchange for money. THis is "under the table" and not arranged through the hospital in which we work at all. Specifically, a parent of former preemie twins recently asked if anyone would be willing to come to their home and do the overnight care/feedings for the twins because they were so desperate for sleep. They said they would make it "worth our while" in terms of money. One of the twins is still on O2. It seems as thought the parents just need a babysitter or nanny, not necessarily a nurse, but since they are so comfortable with us after caring for their babies for 3+ months, they are asking for our help & money is not an issue with them. What are the legal implications of this? Would we be performing under our nursing license if we accepted this under-the-table job, even though it is more like a babysitting job...just to feed the kids overnight. What if something went wrong? After all, one of them is still requiring O2! What is the appropriate way to go about this? Thanks for any info...

Where on EARTH do you work with 8 baby assignments?!?!?!?!?! That is the most ridiculous thing I have EVER heard of! It can't even be humanly possible to get all those feedings in, much less actually do a good assessment on all of your patients?! Now that's putting your RN license at risk. THank God they have hired all those people but you are so lucky nothing has happened up until now. Good luck & hope it all works our for you.

Gompers, why would you cycle TPN? I have never heard of that practice. THen, on the hours that the TPN is off, what do you infuse?

Mithrah, I sent you a private message with more info, did you get it yet?

help! i have been a nicu nurse for 8 years and i still deal with major anxiety over deliveries! i have attended many...bad ones, good ones...you would think i would be cool as a cucumber by now. however, the reality is that i have major anxiety when i get a call to the dr and until i hear that baby cry and/or get back to the nicu i am a ball of nerves! what can i do to overcome this? how does everyone else feel

It's been a while since your post, have you gotten a job yet?

why don't you come to ca? get away from that cold in weather! they are tons of travel opportunities here & you will be pleasantly surprised by the pay. plus you will receive either housing for free or a tax free rent allowance usually around 1200-1800/mo depending on where the contract is. the only negative...you will be expected to float first in many facilities.

Does the following sound correct: A 26 week preemie, 1 week old, 800 gms., inside an isolette, swaddled on air control with humidity at 40%.