krisd

Chicago 1. RN 2. 6 years 3. ICU 4. $24.11 (got a 5% raise yesterday!)

I have been in your shoes. I think I know what you mean about titrating drips. When I was new I couldn't figure out how the nurses "know" how to titrate them, my preceptors would just change the rates willy-nilly it seemed to me. I kept asking, but how many cc's at a time? Knowing the half life really helps, because then you'll know how soon to look for a change. But it isn't an exact science. When I was new, I titrated very, very slowly, often a cc at a time. As I get more familiar with the drugs, I became less hesitant to make changes. And you can always increase/decrease again as needed. Kris D P.S. I bought "Critical Care Made Easy" when I was new and found it a great resource. Have recommended it to all the new nurses I precept.