Biffbradford

Biffbradford

ICU

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All Content by Biffbradford

  1. Refusing food offered by patients

    Biffbradford replied to Lev's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    New, still sealed from the store food I offered up in the break room. Toss the

  2. A typical day at a plasma center?

    Biffbradford replied to SDALPN's topic in General Nursing

    Before nursing, I worked as a technician for a summer. Learning how to stick someone with war movies BLASTING on the TV over your head was a real trip, I tell

  3. calling all ICU nurses!

    Biffbradford replied to urgentcarenurseRN's topic in Critical Care

    Review your EKG strips and wing it from there. You will quickly know what you have to learn, so relax and come in fresh and full of enthusiasm. Learning ICU takes time and cannot be rushed. (read:...

  4. Still unemployed in San Diego :(

    Biffbradford replied to alley0323's topic in California Nursing

    I think hospital work is hard to find everywhere. You might try dialysis. Fire up a resume to Davita, I'm sure they're in your area. They seem to be hiring around here

  5. Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy Guidelines

    Biffbradford replied to HLS2010's topic in Critical Care

    Isn't much of that up the renal

  6. Dont ever want to do critical care ... Afraid of it?

    Biffbradford replied to trein's topic in Critical Care

    Depends on why you hate medsurg. It's the same patients, same families, probably the same docs, just sicker patients closer to

  7. New nurse in ICU...help!

    Biffbradford replied to JesiD's topic in Critical Care

    Take the nurse that you're reporting to in to see the patient(s) to either introduce them or look things over, or ask questions. Show 'em that groin site, or look over the IABP. Helps ease the minds...

  8. when to start compressions?

    Biffbradford replied to NurseCollins799's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    I think one of the toughest codes I initiated was when I was sitting a patient up for the first time after a CABG. It was midnight, and I had just handed him a cup of water for his first drink when...

  9. when to start compressions?

    Biffbradford replied to NurseCollins799's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    Yeah, mechanical devices like the VADs really change things up. I had a patient who was in VTach for 4 days. Multiple shocks (probably disconnecting the controller, I don't recall exactly) and...

  10. Words of wisdom for a new grad starting in the ICU?

    Biffbradford replied to bmendi's topic in Critical Care

    Be a sponge and don't be in a hurry. It seems to me that the newbies who couldn't get into CVVH and IABP fast enough, were the first one's to burn out. Sounds like a huge unit and probably has...

  11. Puzzled... Pulseless VTac to v-fib but no shock?

    Biffbradford replied to RunninOnCoffee's topic in MICU, SICU

    "Open abdomen"? as in wide open with just a sterile dressing? Who was running the code - surgeon or ICU doc? I assume that compressions were being done in the usual fashion? (dismissing my initial...

  12. New Grad 3 weeks into orientation. How independent should I be by now?

    Biffbradford replied to greyL's topic in Critical Care

    There is NO way you should be covering 2 patients at this point. Knowing what staffing is like , worst case scenario would be the preceptor would take the sickest patient(s) and orientees take the...

  13. Crazy days when I take a CABG

    Biffbradford replied to cabgnurse's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    "Sicker than snot." You're not the first one I've heard say this. Where does this phrase come from? Sometimes those balloon pumps go in at the cath lab (perhaps needed, perhaps as a precaution), and...

  14. Could Obamacare cause a shortage in nursing again

    Biffbradford replied to RescueNinja123's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    There are open positions now that are not being filled. Staffing ratios will be pushed to the absolute limits in order to save more

  15. Precepting in the MICU... yikes!

    Biffbradford replied to danceyrun's topic in MICU, SICU

    I hope you're punched in when you're working. DON'T WORK FOR FREE. That's what report time is for. I have the other nurse just give me the high points as I go through all the computer stuff. If it's...

  16. Out of Work Nurse

    Biffbradford replied to kathyshonk66's topic in General Nursing

    (I was the first responder wayyy back). YES! However, sometimes one's hand is forced. In my case it was either quit or crash my car falling asleep driving home. A fear I had daily ... I was falling...

  17. Family In The Room for Code?

    Biffbradford replied to Nursingbride12's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    It has to be done with some prudence. It get's complicated when you're coding the patient and a family member passes out too. (been there, seen

  18. Out of Work Nurse

    Biffbradford replied to kathyshonk66's topic in General Nursing

    14 years experience here, recently quit because the 12 hr NOC shift + 1 hr commute time was gonna kill me (or I'd kill someone else falling asleep behind the wheel). I don't regret quitting that...

  19. What is your Holiday pay like??

    Biffbradford replied to ricksy's topic in General Nursing

    Holiday pay? A day at work is a day at work (so say's the largest healthcare org. in this

  20. Getting an ICU position as first job

    Biffbradford replied to seconddegreebsn1's topic in Critical Care

    Speaking from first hand experience, I can't say that going straight from school to ICU is a necessarily a good idea. Irregardless of how brainy you are, or 'worldly', the first few months for you...

  21. CVICU - Eating their young

    Biffbradford replied to NurseHotFlash's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    Every unit has those types of nurses. You give report to them and you just get the feeling that you've dumped on them (knowing that you haven't), but when the shoe is on the other foot and you get...

  22. Which ICU To work at, which one would you choose

    Biffbradford replied to mizznurse's topic in Critical Care

    Me? I wouldn't do neuro, but some people love that sort of patient

  23. How critical is your ICU?

    Biffbradford replied to calivianya's topic in MICU, SICU

    I certainly don't miss that XXXX. Two stacks of pumps on each side of the bed, pt mottled head to toe, pupils fixed and dilated, everything that has an alarm is alarming, ECMO running with the...

  24. Chest Tubes and Tidaling

    Biffbradford replied to Orizguy's topic in General Nursing

    Did it have any output? That also would indicate if it was clogged or not. I would expect to see some titalling. What if they coughed?

  25. advice needed

    Biffbradford replied to tigerRN2013's topic in Critical Care

    They should assign you a resource as a first line go-to person when you're off orientation. Always remember, though, you are never alone so don't be shy in asking others for their input on