Mayflye

This is the only one you'll need besides a stethoscope.

Freakin' hilarious! If I had been present, I would have needed depends from laughing...I also refuse to subscribe to the "customer service" bs. If they need straight-talk, that's what they'll get.

30 minutes if they're stable and I don't need any orders. Immediately if unstable. If not, I'll be on the phone bothering them.

Look up travel nursing on delphi forums. They have forums on rv's and companies.

I went from med surg/tele to ICU and it was a good two years before I felt comfortable enough to do registry.

What were his injuries? Was he in a car accident? And yes, I believe pts can hear and recognize voices. If he seems to be in pain, ask for pain medicine. Any sedation they are giving him does not control pain.

What's a "floater" contract?

Still happy with Emerald?

I'm going to go with hosed too.

Don't remember ever having been taught this. Maybe it's because I'm over 40!

Is "withdrawl" what they do in the South?

I work at Scottsdale Osborn and I started in the ICU as a new grad. They have an extensive training program.

Just a note...my friend's father is an emergency room physician in Mexico. They do not treat Americans with no insurance (they get lots of vacationers there)..even on an emergency basis. Cash only.

What's next; Mom and apple pie are dangerous to your health? As an ICU nurse, I send a silent prayer on every shift to the wonderful people who invented propofol. We use it all the time, sometimes for a month at rates up to 100/mcg/kg/min. We have a 53 bed ICU with lot of neuro. It is quick to take effect, quick to wear off, and I have never seen any adverse events associated with it, except for hypotension which is where the quick to wear off comes in handy. Of course, it is also great if the intubated pt has hypertension. I also have a background in pharmaceutical research, so I am always interested in data. I know every drug can cause problems in SOMEBODY, but the good for millions outweighs the risk for few. If I'm ever intubated....give me propofol and lots of it!!!

I ask for it when we have pts w/ malignant htn. I think it is one of the most effective and easily titratable drug I use. Never seen it not work.

We have a fancy new ICU with booms that are hydraulic and probably cost a bajillion dollars. I hate them. They are always in the way and the equipment you need is always in the wrong place. I am always limbo-ing under lines; you can't walk all the way around the room. For instance last shift the vent-tubing holder was where you couldn't possibly make it reach the patient and I had to tape it to the bed to keep it from pulling on the ET tube. I could not get the holder unattached to move it. Oh, and it seems to be impossible to turn the beds so the patient can see out the window or see the tv. The booms won't allow it. And our rooms are huge, but most of the space is wasted because the booms are in the way. They sounded like a great idea, but they are a pain. Plus, I remember the company saying everything was so portable for road trips like CT...not!

athomas91 is right. It's a thousand times easier than ACLS (which isn't the worst thing in the world either.)

vamedic is right. Until you take report, it is not your patient. Now you know for next time!

20mEq in 100cc's over 1 hour is appropriate thru a central line.

I live by Banner Tbird, but work in Scottsdale across town. It's a good hospital; not a level one, though. I have heard that the staff nurses take a long time to warm up to new people (like two years). Anything specific about the area you'd like to know? I'm a shopping and nightlife expert!

I never see docs use the cetacaine spray, and rarely the lido gel. Marissa, haven't you seen the docs cranking around with the blade so that you think it's going to pop out their crichoid? That's PAIN, not discomfort. Look at the patients eyes, I've seen it happen.

It is unconscionable not to sedate. How would the anesthesiologist like it if it was done to him/her? Did Saddam Hussein teach them intubation skills? You are absolutely right about the sedation. That's why we suction and put the head of the bed up/ng tube/whatever. Perhaps your nurse manager could address this and supply some type of information/standard of care to the docs. We are our patient's advocates!

You should check out Mark Hammerschmidt's site: All you ever wanted to know about invasive monitoring and more! http://www.icufaqs.org

You were our best allies during 9/11 and we are so sorry those idiots disrupted your city. I'm travelling there in a few weeks from AZ and won't let this stand in my way one bit! Hope you and yours are well and safe.

You should definitely go see her. It will be good for both of you and of course we let immediate family in the ICU. Best of luck. (Oh, and we don't let anyone use cell phones in the ICU)