OptimusPrime

OptimusPrime

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All Content by OptimusPrime

  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...

  16. IABP and CPR

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

    I'm not exactly sure what their rational for this is... I work again Tues. so I'll find out exactly what our policy is and exactly what datascope recommends, and if it is EKG triggering, I'll find out...

  17. IABP and CPR

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

    Talked to a Datascope rep and another one of our more experineced ICU RN's the other day and they both said that during CPR, leave the IABP on EKG trigger. I questioned them, just to make sure, and...

  18. What is the biggest piece of advice you have for nursing students?

    OptimusPrime replied to ton343's topic in General Nursing

    As an educator, I give my students alot of advice up front. What I believe are the two most important are: 1.) Learn how to learn. This means knowing what type of learner you are and how to utilize...

  19. chest tubes

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

    Clamping a chest tube will never cause a tamponade, it's just impossible. The thoracic cavity can hold well over the amount of blood circulating in our bodies. Therefore, one could potentially...

  20. For 85% Pass Rate There Sure Are Alot on Here Who Have Failed

    OptimusPrime replied to Iowa_I_Care's topic in NCLEX Exam, Programs

    "There are hundreds who've passed that aren't members of allnurses." Hehe, Try 10's of

  21. Dosage Calc

    OptimusPrime replied to Hypoxic's topic in NCLEX Exam, Programs

    I had 3 math questions and each one stated to round to the nearest whole

  22. Please HELP I really need Advice!!!!!!!!!

    OptimusPrime replied to sophisticated49's topic in NCLEX Exam, Programs

    You should get between 13-19% med questions. So if you finish @ 75 questions, you would see between 10-14 med

  23. Drawing SVO2's from PICC lines???

    OptimusPrime replied to x455645's topic in General Nursing

    A true SVo2 needs to be drawn from the distal port on the PA catheter. If drawn from a PICC, it's a ScVO2. The two numbers are very closely related and there was a study published in the journal of...

  24. Wide complex SVT versus VT

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

    Ahhh, good points. I always forget about axis if Im not looking at a 12 lead. Oh well, thanks for the

  25. Wide complex SVT versus VT

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

    I agree, if looking at a 12 lead. But, pt's on the bedside monitor usually don't have a continous 12 lead, so we are stuck looking at one, maybe two leads. Same goes for axis, no 12 lead, no way...