mpccrn BSN, RN

Looking for how different units handle patient's home meds. We are horrible at returning them upon discharge. Currently, we put them in a bag with the patient's name on and put them on the countertop in a locked med room. I find them there long after...

How does everyone feel about the latest trends in hospital administration's demands that all nurses must receive the influenza vaccine or wear a mask the entire time they are on duty....including eating lunch!

sign me up!

I haven't had lunch in 35 years....rarely get paid for it. It comes down to staffing by numbers. You can't leave 1 nurse in an ICU and when they staff only 2...oh well, you loose. Administration won't understand why we won't leave because that would ...

ICU ratio's at my hospital are anything that is required.....1:2, 1:3, 1:4

Perhaps if nurses didn't have to use our vacation time when we get sick, we'd stay home and prevent passing on illness to our patients!

oral gastric tubes decrease the changes of sinus infections. By bypassing the nose you deminish the risk.

online ACLS is just fun! It's like a video game. It'll let you do anything you want.....even give epi during VT haha. I wouldn't go back to the regular course!

our ratio for Cardiac SDU is 5:1, working hard to cut it to 4:1. Is 5:1 do-able? sometimes, does it suck? Always. There is something about that 5th patient that just puts the assignment over the edge

1.) Does your intensive care unit have a specific guideline or protocol regarding enteral nutritional therapy in critically ill mechanically ventilated adults? a. Yes and it is clear, concise, and easy to understand b. Yes, but I don't quite understa...

We do sedation vacations on every patient. It not only gives us time to evaluate the neuro statis of the patient, their readiness for extibation but also allows a better idea of how much sedation is actually needed for the patient. Too sleepy is not ...

I don't think it will hurt your attempts at returning. Life needs change our ability to devote ourselves to the job, any good manager will recognize that. Try to go back when you can devote the time off shift to make yourself the kind of nurse invalu...

yep, 20 minutes minimum, then groin and circ checks q15 min x4, q 30min x4, q1hr x4 then q4hrs

I currently work in a rural community hospital where I rotate between ICU and stepdown. Our ratio is 5:1. Most days it's a nightmare....there is something about that 5th patient that makes the goal of the day to stay just one step before impending di...

It's been a few years, but yes when I worked shock-trauma, we use to prone people as a last ditch effort to try and oxygenate them. There are always risk when proning a patient, risk of dislodging tubes of any variety including the ETT. I found it di...

I don't mind students that shadow me but I do expect interest, enthusiasm and some decent questions.

Let's face it, no one will beat us up better than ourselves when we make a mistake. A mistake is something we all strive NOT to ever do.....but it happens sometimes. Fessing up is the best action you can take after making a mistake. It gains you the ...

I belong to AACN, a critical care nurse organization. You pay the membership fee and that's it. Memberships can be 1 year, 2, or 3. The membership allows me to access up to date information, gives me free CEU's, and fulfills a requirement for clinica...

set the pump at a rate of 200, thus the 100ml bag will infuse in 30 min.

I had a hospice aide sister of a patient once think she should dictate her brothers care in the ICU. She made soooo much trouble for me, reporting me to everyone and anyone that had to listen to her. Finally the nursing supervisor put an end to it by...

Welcome to ICU nursing! Yes, early in the flu season we had 2 staff people that got sick before a patient was diagnosed (they didn't yet get the flu shot). Actually we're seeing more influenza in patients that did have the flu shot this year than any...

I'm currently doing a QI project involving interruptions while pouring medication. I am gathering data for a 2 month period, tracking medication errors and will implement a 'no interuption zone'. While nurses are pouring meds, they will not be interr...

That's exactly right. Our hospital policy states that only 10cc srynges can be used on PICC and Midlines. Anything smaller will generate too much PSI and can result in catheter rupture

It all comes down to how bad you want it. Your experience could be invaluable as there are pre and post partum moms that require ICU nursing. Go for it! My current ICU manager was first an ICU nurse, then worked OB for years and she's the best manage...

In a single word......everything!