dawnebeth

dawnebeth

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All Content by dawnebeth

  1. FOOTPRINTS

    dawnebeth replied to NANSNURSE's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    (PreemieRNkate) We stopped doing footprints as part of the hospital record a year or 2 ago. We still do them sometimes for parents, or when a baby dies for the memory box. Interesting, because we just...

  2. FOOTPRINTS

    dawnebeth replied to NANSNURSE's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    About a year ago, we started doing footprints on all babies, regardless of size or how sick they are. If they are admitted, they get footprints done (sometimes just one, if there is an IV on one...

  3. NICU- how much math?

    dawnebeth replied to dfike's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Our doctors figure out all the feeding calculations and what dextrose to use. We do calculations for drips and to check dosages, but most of those are set forumlas and the 'smart pumps' are set at...

  4. Any extra precautions for visitors due to swine flu?

    dawnebeth replied to BittyBabyGrower's topic in Disaster Preparation

    Our hospital just relaxed the mini triage they were doing on all people entering the hospital now that the Swine flu seems to be controlled.

  5. Securing UVC/UAC?

    dawnebeth replied to preemieRNkate's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    The lines are sutured in and then we make a 'goalpost' (the little bridge) with a base of hollihesive and then the clear micropore tape to form the goalpost, with the UAC and UVC in different little...

  6. PICCs Broviacs and Clothing

    dawnebeth replied to qaqueen's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We allow the babies with those lines to wear clothing--they aren't supposed to disconnect the line to put a sleeve through, but if the IV tubing can be snaked through or under the outfit, that's fine,...

  7. Couple of questions...

    dawnebeth replied to NICURN29's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I only wear gloves when there is a chance of touching blood, wounds, infectious patients, etc. I think the babies need to feel the touch of skin for regular care like handling, repostioning, diaper...

  8. Any extra precautions for visitors due to swine flu?

    dawnebeth replied to BittyBabyGrower's topic in Disaster Preparation

    We hadn't lifted the RSV restrictions yet. We're in No. California, where there are already Swine flu cases, and we gets lots of people from Mexico, so now the ER is doing a mini-triage on everyone...

  9. Any extra precautions for visitors due to swine flu?

    dawnebeth replied to BittyBabyGrower's topic in Disaster Preparation

    We hadn't lifted the RSV restrictions yet. We're in No. California, where there are already Swine flu cases, and we gets lots of people from Mexico, so now the ER is doing a mini-triage on everyone...

  10. UA/UVC Lines and blue fingers/toes

    dawnebeth replied to nicu4me's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Oh, we do, all the time. We try to get them in a humidified isolette asap, but if they are transported over for either PDA or NEC surgery, they are placed on a warming table for a few days.

  11. feeding problems

    dawnebeth replied to carla.hca's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We've had deaths on 30 calorie formula, so we never use that anymore. We only allow up to 27 calorie and even that can cause some digestive problems in many babies, so it's always a last case...

  12. One of those weeks

    dawnebeth replied to elizabells's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Just horrible. Give yourself whatever makes you the most happy--chocolate, a massage, and then bring a big bag of candy in for the whole unit. It's weird how the deaths seem to all come together....

  13. feeding problems

    dawnebeth replied to carla.hca's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    As another nurse sai--there's no way we would allow a feeding to take an hour. It's exhausting the babies to the point that they may not have the energy to eat again. We only allow preemies to nipple...

  14. CPAP, SiPAP, High Flow ??

    dawnebeth replied to oglesbymom's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We use a lot of CPAP, which can be a pain with the masks/prongs and keeping the little hat tight on the baby's head, but it is a really good treatment for many of our smaller PRDS babies and BPD, too....

  15. Why I Love the NICU

    dawnebeth replied to helicoptergal's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I've worked in the ICN for a long, long time now, and coincidentally have a daughter with mild developmental delays who is in a special needs class. Three times a week, I care for babies who will, in...

  16. Information for parents

    dawnebeth replied to BabyNurse44's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We make sure the parents have been completely taught with all well-baby care long before their baby leaves the hospital, as well as specific care that their baby might need. We also give a whole...

  17. UA/UVC Lines and blue fingers/toes

    dawnebeth replied to nicu4me's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I had the same thought--was the dopamine going through the UAC? We never put anything in a UAC except NS or Na Ace, But whatever the case, at the first sign of blue extremities, the doctor should get...

  18. Parents never cease to surprise me

    dawnebeth replied to NFB2008's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I've had parents who wanted to save the first poop for the baby book. Like eww.

  19. Is the NICU right for me?

    dawnebeth replied to j_audrey's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    If you are very interested in babies and have a passion for caring for them, I think you should pursue the ICN after nursing school. I work with several nurses who had preemies, either before or...

  20. Medical Missions?

    dawnebeth replied to raerusse's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Many nurses in our unit go on medical missions, although except for some to Russian ICNs in the 1990s, none of them are specifically nursery related care. Most of the nurses I know about go to...

  21. Methadone and cleft palate

    dawnebeth replied to NeoNurse04's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    After I posted the other day, I remembered listening to the radio show Loveline with Dr. Drew--and he told a pregnant heroin addicted listener that she should get in a methadone program because once...

  22. Infant Massage in the NICU

    dawnebeth replied to BittyBabyRN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We have a child development specialist who will teach infant massage to any nurse or parent interested to learn. And we have every sort of baby in our unit from very sick micro-preemies to big...

  23. Parents never cease to surprise me

    dawnebeth replied to NFB2008's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I helped care for a family who were very observant Jews, and had planned a whole special time for mother and baby and all extended family. There was to be a home birth, lots of feasting and special...

  24. Methadone and cleft palate

    dawnebeth replied to NeoNurse04's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Geeze, what are those doctors thinking? Methadone withdrawal is the worst. As someone else said, I'd prefer to wean a Heroin baby rather than a Methadone addicted infant. As for cleft palate--no, I...

  25. therometers

    dawnebeth replied to JBKRUM's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Each baby has their own thermometer taped to the bed, which is theirs to take home. We set them to centigrade, but they can be set to Fahrenheit, too.