OptimusPrime

Latest Activity

1. Cardiac Cath Lab... What's it like??

   OptimusPrime replied to Kgibson089's topic in Cardiac

   Obviously, not all new grads are created equally. So it's not unheard of for a new nurse to be hired in the cath lab, pick it up and do well. However, I do not recommend it o the nurses that rotate...

2. Anybody ever see an IABP balloon failure?

   OptimusPrime replied to catshowlady's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

   You'd be better off doing your own research

3. question about radiation exposure

   OptimusPrime replied to mizjenny00's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

   We used technetium almost exclusively, barring the times the nuclear reactor in Canada failed, then we used Thallium. I would personally do anywhere from 15-20 stress tests/day. Each receiving...

4. anyone working with VAD patients?

   OptimusPrime replied to lee1's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

   Contact the manufacturer and see if they'll send a rep out for an inservice. they are usually great about this. We had a VAD patient in the city I worked as a paramedic in and they sent out a rep...

5. Ideal qualities of an ICU nurse

   OptimusPrime replied to MoLee228's topic in MICU, SICU

   Staying calm is great, if you're calm because you have a handle on whats going on. I've seen some very "funcionally frantic" nurses that are awesome, but there's not a calm bone in their body when it...

6. Ideal qualities of an ICU nurse

   OptimusPrime replied to MoLee228's topic in MICU, SICU

   Keep the room clean... thats all I can think

7. question about radiation exposure

   OptimusPrime replied to mizjenny00's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

   not true... The amount of radiation THEY are exposed to is usually about the same as an xray. And how could the amount they emit be dangerous for you, when the amount receive is so much larger, and...

8. Chest tubes: air leak or no air leak?

   OptimusPrime replied to ahicks's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

   Well, kinda and kinda not. A chest tube is placed to drain either fluid and/or air. Even after CABG's, you will see an air leak sometimes, and that is fine. You just need to be aware of it and make...

9. Low Hgb

   OptimusPrime replied to JayVArn's topic in MICU, SICU

   Thats lower than what I've seen. I've seen 4.8, and we were coding her. lab kept calling us wanting a re-draw. lol, bless their little

10. What do you do if your patient partially self extubates?

    OptimusPrime replied to stripec30's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    Assess your patient. o2 sats, WOB, lung sounds, HR, RR/min, and eye color... Maybe they're fine without being intubated and all they need is some oxygen. Maybe they need an ambu, maybe not. Why...

11. Confused patients and fem lines

    OptimusPrime replied to aCRNAhopeful's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    We very rarely use femoral A-lines. Infection being the biggest reason. Almost all of our post-op hearts have a radial A-line. But, occasionally they will come back with a femoral a-line. When...

12. ABG question.

    OptimusPrime replied to sicushells's topic in MICU, SICU

    The pt is in a respiratory alkalosis. pH > 7.45 with a low pCO2. There's no such thing as overcompensating, the body just doesnt do it when it comes to acid/base and ABG's. Bicarb could be low...

13. Serum potassium levels in code situation

    OptimusPrime replied to eaetaylor's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    Yes, the high potassium could have been a result of the code. Acidotic environments tend to draw K+ out of the cell and lead to hyperkalemia, and Im sure this pt was acidotic. Also, the sample may...

14. opiates and large Vts

    OptimusPrime replied to hepatocyte62's topic in MICU, SICU

    hmmm, The only thing that is coming to my mind is with CABG pt's. These pt's might have a lower tidal volume and pain is the limiting factor with them. So, by giving them an opiate and relieving the...

15. IABP and CPR

    OptimusPrime replied to Tornadochaser's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    Well, it is a pretty simple explanation, it was a misunderstanding on my part. They were saying that on the newer models, there is no need to manually switch from EKG to pressure triggering, the...