IHeartDukeCTICU

IHeartDukeCTICU

CT-ICU

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All Content by IHeartDukeCTICU

  1. What are my chances of getting into the CVICU?

    IHeartDukeCTICU replied to BlkDog's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    Sounds like you have good experience, I too started out on a CV stepdown and then transferred to the CT-ICU. Talking to the manager in person would be a big plus. I had to get my foot in by talking to...

  2. Cant get a blood return from jugular , central venus line?

    IHeartDukeCTICU replied to evolvingrn's topic in General Nursing

    Also see if it's as simple as positioning, occasionally we'll see central lines that have one lumen sitting up on the SVC wall and don't draw back but flush fine, more often when they are dry. You can...

  3. edema question

    IHeartDukeCTICU replied to clearblue3's topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    Good post above. Additionally, just because someone has +4 edema, does not mean that they are fluid overloaded intravascularly, i.e. think third spacing. You can have pts who have gross edema but are...

  4. MAP=60? Why wait to treat?

    IHeartDukeCTICU replied to sewnew's topic in MICU, SICU

    Yup and its not just the numbers.... but quality/accuracy of numbers also. Too many inexperienced nurses are quick to "treat" numbers out of the normal range without looking at the bigger picture and...

  5. Sedation Vacation

    IHeartDukeCTICU posted a topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    Hey all, so I'm one of the co-chairs of the safety/clin practice committee in the CT-ICU and we are in the process of implementing a "Sedation Vacation" protocol. I'm trying to gather more information...

  6. Sedation Vacation

    IHeartDukeCTICU posted a topic in Critical Care

    Hey all, so I'm one of the co-chairs of the safety/clin practice committee in the CT-ICU and we are in the process of implementing a "Sedation Vacation" protocol. I'm trying to gather more information...

  7. Help! I want to be a nurse

    IHeartDukeCTICU replied to future nurse1's topic in General Nursing

    Yea you would have to check with each school as they are all different. It would be hard to get in all of the pre-reqs in one semester, anatomy/physiology 1 & 2 is 2 semesters, then you've got...

  8. Advice for the New Cardiac RN

    IHeartDukeCTICU replied to ElizabethRN10's topic in Cardiac

    I started on a CT surgery stepdown telemetry unit when I first graduated. You'll learn alot on orientation, but you can def get a head start: 1. Know your heart anatomy and physiology, like the back...

  9. Senior Practicum: ICU vs ED

    IHeartDukeCTICU replied to MiniBabyRN's topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    It depends on what you want the experience for. If you want to do the ED b/c you are curious and may never get a chance to do it again since you're inclined to do peds, than do ED. Who knows you may...

  10. bad abbreviations

    IHeartDukeCTICU replied to Sean.McTague's topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    I think Kayciel is a brand name. Our MD's usually write for K-Dur (extended KCL PO), K-chlor (reg PO) or KCL

  11. Really bad day

    IHeartDukeCTICU replied to Zaphod's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    yeah don't beat yourself up too bad, it happens, and it's bound to happen. Our patients are extremely sick. We don't always find an answer as to why they do things. I had a patient code on me with no...

  12. Albumin/fluids and svr

    IHeartDukeCTICU replied to Zaphod's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    yea similar things happen here, most of the docs attribute it to SVR syndrome or SIRS (systemic inflamatory response) from being on pump. So you'll see wicked high CI/CO, super low SVR. We hardly use...

  13. Low mag level

    IHeartDukeCTICU replied to General E. Speaking, RN's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    Yea, we are quick to tx even lower levels of normal for K and Mg. I suppose CT sx pts are more prone to arrhythmias b/c of cardiac irritability after surgery. Not to mention, they usually come out...

  14. role of CNA in ICU?

    IHeartDukeCTICU replied to thekid's topic in Critical Care

    Hey thekid, I can't speak for every floor, but on our CTICU, the CNA's don't do quite as much compared to being out on stepdown/floor. Before I get slammed, I do not mean that they don't work hard....

  15. Anyone a new grad working at FLorida Hospital or Orlando Health?

    IHeartDukeCTICU replied to Renee4christ's topic in Florida Nursing

    Hey everyone, I'm from Orlando and went to school at UCF but I left town and am now thinking about moving back after getting some experience at Duke hospital. I have 3 years of experience now in the...

  16. What you wished you had known before you started your first job?

    IHeartDukeCTICU replied to AndreaBallard's topic in General Nursing

    SMAT-standardized medication administration times... can vary from hospital to hospital but knowing the usual medication administration times. And... how to put on a patient gown with tons of lines...

  17. Being the only guy in my graduating class is pretty lonely

    IHeartDukeCTICU replied to sch983's topic in Male Nursing Students

    Don't sweat it bub, they'll eventually crack! :) I was 1 of 10 guys in my class when I was in school, and they only one in my clinical group. For the first few weeks all the girls in my group did the...

  18. Early Mobilization after Open Heart (what does this mean to you?)

    IHeartDukeCTICU replied to rickard's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    Ours is similar, extubate within 3 hours if stable, wean drips and d/c PA... usually within 5-6 hours, d/c swan and up to chair. Sometimes we'll have patients who come back w/o epi or low dose epi...

  19. stopcocks

    IHeartDukeCTICU replied to General E. Speaking, RN's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    Haha, trial by fire... after you get some type of body fluid on your scrubs or gloves, depending on what type of line it is, you'll pick it up :) so many lessons learned on orientation. Don't feel bad...

  20. CVICU Stepdown

    IHeartDukeCTICU replied to Lil_Mama4sho1's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    ^^ I too started at Duke CT stepdown right out of nursing school... best decision I made. I work in the ICU now, and it makes a world of difference getting your feet wet first, understanding the pt...