RNpatterson

I'm a VAD coordinator at my hospital. No certification that I am aware of. Cardiac ICU background with VAD experience is quite common for coordinators. Once in the role, there are opportunities for formal training through Thoratec (HeartMate) and Hea...

Ketamine isn't as scary as it sounds. I know our facility has a lower max dose on the floors compared to the ICU and it can really help with pain control (amio, cardizem, heparin all fair game on the floors here.). Levo and insulin gtts out of the IC...

I started on a smaller CVICU first and I worked on the unit as a tech while in school which helped once I became a nurse. Being overwhelmed is good when you're new - it means you're learning. At that facility, we encouraged new nurses to take the sic...

The IABP only offloads the heart by about 15% which is often all is needed. The impella tends to offer more assistance and the newest model has the ability to offer full cardiac assistance. Balloon pumps are often used to assist in the recovery of c...

I didn't mean to offend but I did start my post by saying I can only speak to my experience at my facility... hiccups? really?

Ask tons of questions! I always ask my orientees what their background is and what kind of patients they have taken so far in orientation, and what kinds of patients or skills they want to work on... it gives me a gauge of where they are on the learn...

Oy... VAD coordinator from step-down? All of ours have at least a decade of CVICU experience on units utilizing VADs. I can't speak for the rest of the nation or for anyone else's experience (including yours) but that thought kind of terrifies me. Gr...

I haven't done any research on the topic but I can say our facility does them fairly quickly; we generally try to get it done before lifting sedation. It's rare, but sometimes they'll do it immediately post-op in the OR and also rare and far more unf...

We're pretty spoiled with our post-ops as well. We single our post-ops until extubated and dangled (mobility is HUGE in our ICU). If a pt is extubated toward the middle or end of the shift, they are usually left 1:1 for one more shift. My hospital is...

Our facility uses weight-based protocol but pharmacy uses the weight to determine a starting rate and bolus dose - that's the only time weight is factored into our use. The order set then shows the protocol for rate changes and bolus amount based on ...

I was hired as a new grad into an inner-city ICU and absolutely loved my job and everyone I worked with. After a year, my husband and I had the opportunity to move out of state which I was quite happy about but of course that meant I had to put in my...

Update --- I have seen many threads and posts about RNs wanting to leave their jobs and start a new field. I look back on this post and almost can't believe I wrote it. I really enjoy my job! While I do miss working with the underserved and the chall...

I'm moving to Seattle next month from Michigan. I applied to UW, VM, Northwest, and Swedish - within a week I had interviews lined up with all of them, last week I flew out and was offered jobs at all of the facilities (and accepted a position at UW)...

My husband and I are moving to Seattle at the end of October. I have just under a year of experience in Cardiac ICU so far I have applied to a number of ICU/ED jobs at Swedish, Virginia Mason, and Northwest. Am I missing any hospitals/medical centers...

Michigan - Cardiac ICU

Good point and that brings up another question I have. We're planning on living somewhere downtown (where I get a job will help guide where specifically)... Is public transportation a reliable resource to get to/from the hospitals i.e. UW, Harborview...

Thanks! I applied to a couple positions at Harborview and UW. We'll see... I have had call-backs on other jobs I applied for and still need to interview with the managers. Looking promising so far! I'm so excited to move! Seattle is such a beautiful ...

Candyn - $500 isn't too bad when you consider they cover the flight from Miami to Haiti and back, plus room and board while you are there (and you can choose how long you stay), and you get a life-changing experience. You can also do fund raising th...

We have standing replacement protocol orders on nearly every one of our patients. Like most posts, we do not replace HD patients but do check levels every AM. However, we also do CRRT on my unit and we DO replace and have a special order set for them...

I volunteer in Haiti through "Project Medishare." Great organization, life-changing experience. Check out their site for info.

I'm curious as to how everyone manages to fit family life and responsibilities into your SRNA life? I know where there is a will, there is a way... how do you learn to juggle?

As a new nurse nearing the end of orientation, I can speak from experience (for the first time in my nursing career) when I say "don't stress." You will learn everything you need to know (the basics and where to find help when needed) in orientation....

With some luck, a LOT of hard work and countless sacrifices, I am among the fortunate few who snagged their dream job right out of nursing school. Tomorrow I will don my patch-free scrubs, anything-but-white-shoes, and RN badge, and with a great deal...

benm93 - It was lots of hard work and some good old fashioned luck. I was in nursing school when I heard from a friend about a manager on a cardiac stepdown unit seeking out nursing students for techs on the unit (luck). I emailed her right away and ...

Project Medishare is a great organization and I highly recommend the experience for any nurse. They also have another large focus on prosthetics and physical therapy working with the Haitians who lost limbs in the earthquake so if you know anyone wor...