BittyBabyRN

The book titled Saul by Rosemary Kay is a GREAT read! It is a book written by an NICU parent, but written from the perspective of the baby. It talks a lot about the different nurses. It is really cute and makes you really think about what you are doing! :)

Although I am not a Jehovah's Witness... I have been told by our chaplin, that the parents believe that if they consent for such a transfusion, they are knowingly "damning" the child. However, if it is done "against their will" the child can be forgiven. So in many emergency cases... the parents or family may not truly object to the transfusion, they just don't want to wear that burden on themselves, and are hoping for someone else to make the decision. Many are aware that if it is an absolute necessity, it will be done, regardless (via court order, or in similar cases to yours). Don't know if this helps... but just FYI! :)

I think you MIGHT be talking about Fred E. Frog? Try looking on Children's Medical Venture's website. They have many popular developmental aids.

I know that this may be addressed in another thread, but if someone could either answer my question, or direct me to an answer, I would appreciate it. I know that a CNL is more of a generalist than a CNS, but what does this really mean? I know that in CNL training, in obtaining your MSN, you still have clinical rotations, and become an "expert" in a field.... but currently I work as an RN in a level III NICU, and would preferably stay with babies, or at the least, pediatrics. I feel that the program offered close to me that offers training to become a CNL is better for me due to the length, and online options, but I am unsure if the degree itself would be better as CNS or a CNL? SOOOOO My main question is: What in the world is the real difference between a CNS and a CNL? Thanks! Amanda

Hello All!!! I am starting a new project in my unit, and I was wondering if any of you work in NICUs that incorporate infant massage for even your babies that are not in the "well-baby" nursery. If so, any details regarding criteria, people preforming, length, etc. would be appreciated. Thanks in advance! :) I truly appreciate it! -BittyBaby:nurse:

A usual cervix is between 30 and 40 mm long. If the cervix is short, then it is some percent effaced. This means that depending on how far along in the pregnancy the mother is, she may be close to delivery, threatening to deliver early, or even miscarry.

I have heard that some nurses on my unit "like" to pulse the flush.... but I do not believe there is evidence behind this. I think it is more personal preference, and their personal thinking that it mimics the HR. I agree with you that this seems like nonsense. I share your concern with this subject, however, you must consider too the length of the tubing that you are flushing. If you are flushing a line, chances are 0.1 ml, or even 0.2 might not eject all of the medication/fluid out of the line. Although a ton of fluid is not necessarily the most optimum situation, it is the lesser of the two evils, the other being the fluid/medication is not adequately delivered.

The first one does have some cute ones!! :) On the shirt for the link, what does BUFA stand for? Never heard that one! The second link says the business is no longer up and running , too bad!

I was wondering if anyone had cute ideas for tshirts/sweatshirt designs for the RNs in the NICU. Any cute slogans? Any ideas of places that sell nice ones? Thanks!

Hello! On my unit, an underying problem we encounter a lot is parents feeling like they are not as involved or unaware of their baby's care. What do you guys do on your unit to ensure this? We came up with some ideas, like keeping a "journal" at the bedside for the nurse to write messages in to keep the parents updated when they aren't around; keeping a calendar with important milestones for the babies marked; a voicemail service that MDs can leave update messages for the parents if they aren't present for rounds. Any more ideas? Thanks! :)

Our hospital never co-beds anymore. Even if we need the space, we might put two isolettes or open cribs in an area intended for one, but never in the same space exactly. I have heard that is due to infection control issues... like if one of the twins were to pick up something, we wouldn't want to give it to the other one obviously. I do think that it makes it easier to look at them and treat them as individuals.

LOVE: MOSTLY EVERTHING!!! watching them grow, helping parents adjust and understand what is going on, feeling so important for that baby's care and immediate development, even starting IVs, art sticks, and other technical skills, getting to hold them when they are OH-SO-Small!!!! And lots more!!! :-) HATE: The only thing I really hate at all is when things go terribly wrong, and especially when there is nothing you can do. You tend to blame yourself and go over what happened in your head and think, "if only i would have done..." or "why didn't I notice that...." But it does keep you on your toes! Also, after a baby takes a bad turn, its hard to talk to parents. They usually are histerical and you don't know how much they are actually absorbing from your convo! All and all, the good DEFINATELY, without a doubt outway the bad. I really love my job but like anything, it is probably not for everyone and you really won't know until you give it a chance! :-)

I will agree with EricEnfermero! We do have some 1:1s but usually if the kid is extremely unstable or not expected to make it through the shift. We also will occasionally get up to 7 kids, but will get a Patient Care Assistant or well-baby float nurse to help us out. That is usually only when we r very understaffed and have no other options! BUT it does happen!

They didn't give a range for the temperatures. Optimal temperature is stated as "close to body temperature". The amount that were cold were only stated to "go as low as 52.7 degrees F", and the hotter ones "went as high as 118.2 degrees F". They state that there are many studies going on to connect cold feedings with cold stress and NEC incidence. And only saying that "there are multiple negative side effects on the GI tract when feeding an infant at that high of temperatures".

They offer one bottle units and four bottle units. We have a "breastmilk room" on our unit, and there are usually about 2 people in the room at a given time, just depending on the schedules and nurse's preference. The website suggests to have the single units even at the bedside. This would obviously be more expensive but maybe a couple of the 4 tub units at central places? As with everything, this idea obviously wouldn't be for every unit.