iluvnicu

Is TWU online? On their website it says WHNP program is offered at their Dallas center. I emailed an advisor last week but haven't heard back from her. I've also looked into Cincinnati, love that they do not require visits to campus! Good luck @Princess_WannaBe

That is most likely what I will do as well. Which WHNP program are you applying to? I haven't found many online programs. I'm looking to start Fall 2014, will have a 2yr old and 6month old at that time, so really don't want to do anything where I would have to travel outside of Texas.

I am wondering the same thing. I have been an RN for 5.5 yrs, working in a level III NICU. I'm hopefully going back to school fall 2014, but I've heard the same about WHNP and FNP. I have absolutely no desire to do FNP, I am really just interested in Women's Health. But I have heard from so many that it is best to go FNP route. I'm stuck, can't decide which way to go. I'm in Central Texas.

I'm getting ready to go back to school for my MSN. I have 5yrs experience in a level III NICU. I have always wanted to do NNP, but lately I have been thinking more about WHNP. I have a 6month old, and planning on more babies in the near future. My question is for the NNPs. What are your hours/shifts? Where I work, the NNPs are always switching around. They may work a 12hr day shift, off a day, then work a 12hr night, then two 16hr shifts on the weekend (I don't know their actual schedule, it just seems like there is no continuity). It doesn't seem very conducive to raising a family, and being able to be at your children's functions. The thought of clinic sounds so enticing. Thoughts??

Do we know yet if this course still plans to be rescheduled?

We use the cannulaid on all CPAP babies and have had much success. Like others have said, you do have to change it frequently and it makes it difficult to assess the nares and septum. You just have to assess when you change it, when it is secure its purpose is to prevent breakdown. We use the sticky whiskers for some of our NC, but mostly use tegaderm on the cheeks. I don't see much breakdown in our unit.

We use liquid glycerin mostly, some of the bigger babies they may order slivers. We use either 0.2 or 0.3mL in a slip tip syringe, put some lubricant on the end, its ordered prn if no stool for 24hrs.

We wear our own, but the pants have to be navy and tops have to be 50% navy for RNs, other staff wear different colors but same rule, same throughout the hospital not just our unit. OR and those in L&D working c/s have issued scrubs. We do a full 3min scrub up to elbows at beginning of shift and after lunch, and any time we leave from the NICU. No jewelry on hands or wrists. No clothing below elbows if working with a patient (if not doing care, can wear sweater/scrub jacket or have sleeves pulled down). When holding a baby, we have to wear a gown. All visitors must do 3min wash, no jewelry, and wear a gown. Our docs and NNPs wear either scrubs or professional clothes with a gown. If we attend c/s we have to wear a cover gown. Any other staff coming in (surgery, radiology, consulting MDs) have to do the wash/no jewelry/gown.

Our cut off is 36weeks for both head and body cooling. We use the Olympic Cool-Cap System and the Blaketrol III Hyper-Hypothermia System.

:-( Do you know of any other courses being offered? Or of any way to get the information that was being presented? I'm sorry more people didn't register.

I studied independently with the core curriculum book and the review/question book that goes with it. I did all the questions but just used the book as a reference, and took the test after 3 months, but I didn't pass. I should have really read through the book and really studied. I'll be taking a 3 day review course in November in Dallas to better prepare myself, and continue with studying. The exam was much more detailed than I assumed it would be. The questions were much more difficult!! Study Study Study!!! You have plenty of time :) Good Luck!!

I have been asked to head up the Bereavement Committee at my level III NICU. We have started implementing a few new things, but would really like some input on how other NICUs handle these situations. We have a "Checklist" that I put together for the nurse taking care of a dying baby that has numbers for chaplain and social work as well as what to do for postmortem care. We have a photography department that can come take pictures, after parents consent. After bathing and dressing the baby, we have a white wicker basket that we put the baby in to present to the family in the Overnight (room-in) room. We let the family stay for as long as they wish to say their good-byes. When the family is ready to go, we bring the baby back into the unit and place in a casket and then in a bag to take to the morgue. My first question is what is your procedure for taking the baby to the morgue? I've had a lot of older nurses ask about swaddling and actually carrying baby. The morgue in our hospital is on the complete opposite side of the NICU, so the bag is so we don't have to carry through the hospital. However, I understand that putting the baby in a box/casket and then in a bag can seem a bit inhumane, esp if the family sees you. What do you do? We are in the process of getting sympathy cards made to send to the families, but I don't know what message to put in the card. And how often do you send out cards? We also have some memory boxes ordered. In the boxes, we will have an envelope for a lock of hair; a charm for a necklace/bracelet; a card; hand/foot prints; hand/foot impressions; and a diaper, blood pressure cuff, or anything else family may want. We have a booklet called "Why Mine?" and another for families that have to make the decision to withdraw care (sorry I can't remember the name of it right now). What are some other things you do for the families? Any suggestions/comments are welcome!! Thanks!!

I am so happy to have found this!! I just attempted my exam, and failed. I'm very disappointed in myself, but I didn't really study that much. I had given up on trying again...until I found this. A review course sounds great, much better for me than trying to go at it on my own. So, I think I'm gonna try again. If you have any pointers on the exam, I would greatly appreciate anything!! Thanks for posting!!!