Stlcardsrock

Hey TexasCCRN, How is that phone/contact list coming for the TCU SRNA's?

Yes we have 1 charge nurse for an 18 and soon to be 26 bed ICU. They are responsible for the schedule, staffing, policies, annual reviews, and daily maintainence of the unit (flow, baby, flow). They do not have patients unless we are short staffed and cannot find agency help. They are there to help out with new admits, as we recover all ICU straight from OR and bypass PACU. They help out in procedures, patients crashing, they are also the code responders in house. They charge nurses are selected by the manager and usually have 1-2 years experience in our unit to learn the ropes, flow, physicians, system, etc.

I disagree, after 1 year of using this drug I have found that I experience as much hypotension as propofol if the patient does not have adequate-high filling pressures. We try to keep our hearts here on the dry side, less incidence of pleural effusions, etc. Yes there are advantages to using dexmedetomidine HCl as described by others. You also have to take in consideration that a run of Precedex is about three times more expensive than propofol. You can never have the amnesic effects you can with propofol. You can't use dexmedetomidine HCl for more than 24 hours per the manufacturer, then you go off label.

I learned to be an ICU RN under Dr. Tom. He is a phenom. I now teach using his philosophyand methods of monitoring hemodynamics at my institution. When we implemented the Baxter CCO's 3-4 years ago, that was a quite the advancement, when we upgraded the software to include EDV/EF et al, it is much more useful now, not only in open heart recovery but in sepsis and even trauma.

I can't quote numbers, but I believe there were only one or two local clinical sites left as of 2 weeks ago. At this point you might be wait-listed. I heard back almost immediately. One friend heard back in one week, the other is still waiting, now going on 1 1/2 weeks. Best of luck and hopefully we'll be classmates in the fall. Let me know, we (bunch of TCU acceptees) are going to try and hook up some time before classes start.

I think there will be 61 accepted in the program if I'm not mistaken and 100 at TX Wesleyan. I don't know how many applicants total. The questions were pretty straightforward clinically. I would talk about my clinical history and they would ask questions in that particular area. Nothing was asked that would be considered "trapping" or "that we shouldn't know" as ICU nurses. Make sure you are familiar with hemodynamics. Not just PA and CVP but the ones you would find on a Baxter CCO monitor.

Count me in for starting at TCU this fall. I am also looking forward to meeting some faces before the year begins.

I finally got a letter from TWU to set up an interview. I think I will decline to interview, b/c I got accepted at my first choice. I also got the clinical site I was going for. I don't know why it has taken them so long to get back with me. Their delay cost them a prospective student. They just didn't make a good first impression by losing things that were confirmed sent and faxed, and just their slow process. Not one person with a clinical degree has contacted me at any time. With the recent financial troubles that the university has had, including a period of probation, and TCU's great reputation, I think I have made my choice. My friend is interviewing Tuesday. She is really brushing up on her material. I heard Dr. Reinke is a real doozy when it comes to interviewing.

I have had my stuff in for weeks and am still waiting for them to set up an interview. In the mean time, had an interview with TCU and got accepted there. Now I wonder if I even want to follow up. I have had so many problems with their front office not being organized. Not a great first impression on me.

I'm in TCU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited. I got Harris Methodist-FW as my clinical site. That means I don't have to relocate. I couldn'nt be happier. Hope to see everyone in the fall. Maybe we could hook up before the school year begins.

You are probably waiting for slackers like me that have not had thier interview, but beat the Dec. 1 deadline. I am waiting for them to "compute my GPA" and then to schedule the big interview. Best of luck, maybe we will be classmates in the fall.

Echo these sentiments.Thanks again for the post. Yes, this whole process is nerve-wrecking, from the essay I have rewritten 10 times to passing the 2 exams, GRE and CCRN, all the while taking organic chem. Please shoot me now.

Congrats. You are where I hope to be come Feb 1.I am mailing in my app tomorrow. How long did the whole process take?

I don't understand your post.Vasopressin should not be a last ditch effort. Xigris and Vasopressin cannot be compared, they are two completely different drugs. In septic shock, they should be used in conjunction. Xigris needs to be started early in the cascade, if it is, it will work wonders. Vasopressin should be started as early as possible to keep SBP near 100. This will provide adequate perfusion for all organs. I know most will say SBP at 90, but the physicians here prefer that. They also need ridiculously high filling volumes. Your last dich effort should be Neosynephrine.

Ditto. Works well for us.No complaints from any of the nurses. It gives the opportunity to ask questions, see expressions on the reporting nurses' faces, review things in the chart together, etc; things thant can't be done with a tape. Granted some people are more windy than others, but it's tolerable.:wink2: