sparkyRN

sparkyRN

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All Content by sparkyRN

  1. How 'bout these pH's.....

    sparkyRN replied to enfermeraSG's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Nearly always the obvious

  2. Floats

    sparkyRN replied to fergus51's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    It is great that you enjoy working in so many areas and have the experience to do well in each. I have nothing against someone working in the NICU that knows what they are doing and more importantly,...

  3. Floats

    sparkyRN replied to fergus51's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    My 2 cents... I know you probably won't agree with me, but I think I'd take my short staffing problem over your short staffing problem any day! We don't have floaters-ours is a women's hospital, no...

  4. CPAP and septal necrosis

    sparkyRN replied to melissah's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We rotate between the prongs and the mask. Generally, we like the mask better because of the decrease chance of septal breakdown. One of my pet peeves is babies wearing a NCPAP cap that is too...

  5. neonates and foley catheters

    sparkyRN replied to Mimi2RN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    [We used to use 5 fr og's, but several years ago one managed to get a knot in it, inside a baby girl. She had to go to the level III to have it removed. That's left us a bit leary of using feeding...

  6. Is it Christmas? Major unit changes!!!!!

    sparkyRN posted a topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We've got nearly 20 new positions posted (half already filled)! We're getting a full staff of RTs! There will be more non-nursing staff to take care of supplies and equipment! We have a few spots for...

  7. Is it Christmas? Major unit changes!!!!!

    sparkyRN replied to sparkyRN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    JCAHO has already been here. It has more to do with finally having a permanent Director of Nursing. I'm sure it will help our cause too that there won't be anymore announced JCAHO visits. The...

  8. Rotating shift advice?

    sparkyRN replied to gingerik's topic in Nursing Career

    What will your rotation be like...week of days, week of nights; 2 weeks days, 2 nights: month of days, month of nights? Is it split evenly or will you be doing more of one shift than

  9. HAF & Lipid mixing

    sparkyRN replied to dbscandy's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    TPN and IL are run seperately and connected into the IV below the filter for peripheral, PICC and CVLs. No lipids in the UAC. Lipids are notorious for clogging the air filter in the IV

  10. Primary care in the NICU

    sparkyRN replied to pat m's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We've tried primary nursing and it doesn't work for us. Our unit is big, and most of the nurses have to rotate between Level II and III-except some of the older ones who only do Level II. When you...

  11. NICU and views on abortion

    sparkyRN replied to SteveNNP's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Being a NICU nurse has not changed my stand on abortion. I'm pro-life. I guess I'm a naturalist (not my religion-I'm much more traditional than that)-but I think everyone is here for a reason and...

  12. Anyone working for St. Jude?

    sparkyRN replied to mjmedic/rn_2006's topic in Tennessee Nursing

    St. Jude is a fabulous hospital to work for..great staff support, training, pay, scheduling and benefits. Not an employee, but I have several former co-workers that have gone there because of the...

  13. MRSA in the NICU.....question for you

    sparkyRN replied to carolina_girl's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We are going through it now. Babies are swabbed on admission and M-W-F. Any baby that is colonized is placed in the isolation room (luckily it is pretty big...there were 12 babies in there...

  14. whats your motivation?

    sparkyRN replied to ophelia's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    No personal experience here, but I work with several nurses who had premies. 3 were NICU nurses when they had their babies and all lived, 2 without problems and 1 with some neuromuscular problems....

  15. Grey's Anatomy Premier!!! + How to Contact Show Creators

    sparkyRN replied to miya's topic in General Nursing

    I've sent ABC my

  16. Heavily Tättooed: Can I get into nursing???

    sparkyRN replied to YukonDave's topic in General Nursing

    There are some areas where any clothing below the elbow is a no-no when doing direct patient care for infection control reasons. As long as your forearms, hands and nails are clean, the tats...

  17. What is it about nursing school....

    sparkyRN replied to nurse34's topic in General Nursing

    The worst was doing those detailed

  18. Poll: What do you love about the NICU?

    sparkyRN replied to carolina_girl's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I agree with a lot of the things No Crumping and Fergus said. PLUS, there are some practical things. 1.) All my babies, even when I am caring for too many, are right there in front of me. My...

  19. What are some of the most common meds used in the NICU?

    sparkyRN replied to carolina_girl's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Other immunizations too, like Hepatitis B if mom's status is unknown, she is "at-risk" or no prenantal care. Also some of the long term babies will get their IPV, DPT and synagis right before...

  20. My orientation is almost over--HELP!

    sparkyRN replied to Autumn1081's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Whatever you do, don't avoid asking for help because you're worried what the other nurses will think. I'm much more concerned about the new nurse who never asks for help or asks questions. No one...

  21. Co-Bedding

    sparkyRN replied to kitty29's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Never have. Never

  22. what hours are available for ADN RN

    sparkyRN replied to quiby's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Not to put a damper on your plans, but I think the job reality for all new hospital based nurses is a fulltime position initially. The hospital makes an investment in training ICU nurses and needs a...

  23. Clothing from home?

    sparkyRN replied to weepeenurse's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    No clothes unless the infant is in a bassinet. We warn the parents that anything they bring may get lost or thrown into the laundry hamper. We ask them not to bring anything they would not want to...

  24. Scrub or handwash?

    sparkyRN replied to Mimi2RN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    3 minute scrub with chlorohexadine soln for everyone. Staff wears scrubs; visitors wear a hospital gown over their clothes (believe me this evens the playing field-we don't have to discriminate...

  25. NICU visitation policy-Are more visitors really better?

    sparkyRN replied to sparkyRN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Had the same thing happen Monday! I was in an isolation/cohort area for MRSA when the 14yo mom of a septic 4 week old 23 weeker came to visit. She left and told me she would be back later. She came...