LR_C

Hello all, I'm doing some research about NICU and I came across Thermoregulation. I'm so confused at the relationship between hypothermia and : - hypoxia - acidosis - hypoglycemia - pulmonary vasoconstriction If anyone could explain any of the above to me, it would be VERY much appreciated.

Thank you so incredibly much everybody- your responses mean a lot to me.

Thanks so much for the reply! And I also have Gardner and Merenstein and I agree. Thanks so much.

Hello all, I am a new graduate RN who is looking for an NICU job (I have a few interviews coming up). In the meantime, I am planning on attending a Perinatal Neonatal Stream Nursing Certificate course in a few weeks. In addition, I have been reading some neonatal books such as the "Core Curriculum for Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing". I feel like I want to go into the NICU as an RN who has a really strong foundation- I don't want to walk in the first day and be COMPLETELY 100% lost. I don't know where to start though. There is SO much information in these books and I feel like I can only learn so much from a book and I would be able to learn more by hands-on. I don't think that nursing school prepared me to all of a sudden jump into something so specialized that I know nothing about. I just need reassurance and advice please :) It would be GREATLY appreciated!!!!!

Hello, I don't know if you'll get this as you posted a while back but I have a question about you doing research prior to your NICU interview. I am anticipating a NICU interview in the near future and I got a few really good neonatal books out and I've been studying quite a bit. I am just confused as to what I should study, what they could possibly ask me about in an interview, etc. What did you study/ research? Simply things like physical assessment of a newborn? What do do if you walk in and a baby is having difficulty with _______? etc. Thanks so much! I just have no idea what to look into!

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I love this question because I am a new grad RN and it is my absolute DREAM to work in the NICU and I've been applying to a number of NICU jobs and I'm scared of what they can possibly ask me in the interview (especially at this one hospital because my friend had an RN interview there and apparently it was the hardest interview she's ever had). My friend had an interview in the Oncology ward at the hospital that I'm anticipating an NICU interview from and she said that for her interview, they asked her what the main traits were in the population that she was going to work with (i.e. if it was mostly elders, things like pressure ulcers) and then after she identified a number of typical problems that the population she was going to work with had, they followed up by asking her what immediate interventions were. So I'm guessing if they have the same interview style for NICU, they'd ask things like what typical problems are (although I'm unsure if they would seeing as to how vast of an array of problems an NICU baby could have) but I'm thinking of things such as hyperbilirubinemia and whatnot. They also asked her to walk through a physical examination of a patient (so I'm guessing, if they did this for NICU, they would ask for what you're looking for when doing a physical exam of a healthy baby so things like symmetrical features, patent airway, normal heart rate, etc.) This probably isn't much help but as mentioned above, I'm anticipating an interview in the NICU and I've been brainstorming what they could possibly ask me in terms of specific questions and this is what I've been really looking into/ becoming familiar with. GOOD LUCK!! I know what it feels like wanting NICU so badly.

Hello Everyone, I just graduated from a BScN program and passed the CRNE and am now an RN :) I knew ever since going into nursing that my dream is to work in the NICU. It is what I was born to do and I know it. I'm in Canada though (ontario to be more specific) and there are not very many hospitals that allow new graduate nurses to work in the NICU. Obviously, I am open to working in other wards first and eventually working myself into the NICU. Unfortunately the job hunt has not been going well as I have yet to score a job, but I am continuing to apply. I feel like I am stuck in a rut and I don't know where to go from here. There is a 4-month Perinatal Intensive Care Nursing Program that starts in September that I plan on applying to in the next few days- I am just unaware if this is the right thing to do. It is a program designed to prepare RNs to work in any Level II or Level III NICU. I know that a few hospitals in Ontario don't let you apply to their NICUs unless you have this program already, so that's a plus. However, I am unsure if as soon as I graduate from this program if I can apply to work at a NICU? What happens if I don't get a job by then? Any suggestions? Advice? etc. Anything would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thank you so much! And that was a really good point- about what you said regarding what you would do in the "perfect world of nursing" because it just hit me that whenever I do my practice questions, I always think about what I'd do and (stupidly enough) never thought of what would be the "perfect" thing to do. That really helped a lot. Thank you very much for your reply!

Hello all, I feel silly asking this question but I've been doing some practice questions for the CRNE using the CNA "Learn" books. And I've been doing worse than I have expected- most of the questions just seem so odd for lack of a better word. Aside from Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, what other processes would you suggest using for answering the multiple choice questions? I know obviously the answer would be "Everything we've learned up to this point" but a lot of the questions have 2 answers that are pretty much both right and I always have trouble picking out the right ONE. Thank you so much

I was wondering if you guys could help me out! I'm taking the CRNE on June 1st 2011 and Im so SO confused on what I should study! I was going to focus on anatomy and pathophysiology and whatnot but apparently that wouldn't help?! Any pointers? Thank you so much. AND CONGRATULATIONS! I am so happy for you :)

How do I get to the Canadian forum?

Thank you so much! Yes, I am educated in Canada and I as well have heard that it is not-so-science-based. Since it is based on psycho-social aspects, however, I feel unsure as to how to prepare. Thank you again for moving this over to the other thread!

Hey! I wouldn't for the life of me be able to translate my understanding in my head to words so I'll copy what my "Clinical Pharmacology Made Incredibly Easy" book explains regarding ACE inhibitors because I totally understand what you're saying but I think that this explains it well. Let me know if you still don't get it after I send you this. ACE inhibitors reduce BP by interrupting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Normally, the kidneys maintain BP by releasing the hormone renin. Renin acts on the plasma protein angiotensinogen to form angiotensin I. Angiotensin I is converted to Angiotensin II (potent vasoconstrictor) which increases peripheral resistance and promotes the excretion of aldosterone. Aldosterone> promotes retention of sodium and H20> blood volume increases BUT! ACE inhibitors prevent the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II> angiotensin II is reduced> arterioles dilate> peripheral vascular resistance decreases By reducing aldosterone secretion, ACE inhibitors promote the excretion of sodium and water, which reduces the amount of blood the heart needs to pump> BP is lowered I really hope that helped!

Edit: Are just reviewing the review books adequate in your opinion? Or should I go subject by subject with other books and then at the end do the review books? Thanks!