TennRN2004

TennRN2004

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All Content by TennRN2004

  1. HIT in CABGs

    TennRN2004 replied to TennRN2004's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    We used to be the same way. Lately though we've had a lot of chronic pts with platelets in the

  2. HIT in CABGs

    TennRN2004 replied to TennRN2004's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    Just curious if you don't mind Dinith, what type of ICU do you work in? I always enjoy reading your posts. You're very knowledgeable on cardiac issues. How long have you been a

  3. HIT in CABGs

    TennRN2004 replied to TennRN2004's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    I agree Dinith, I don't think it is a question of seeing "more" of HIT, but just recognizing it and be aware it is a possibility. I had an interesting conversation with hematology a few weeks back on...

  4. Want to Discuss Hearts?

    TennRN2004 replied to nedanurse's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    It's neat to hear how other facilities work. At my hospital, we don't pull anything-CTs or pacing wires, the surgeons or their nurses only do it. We have a few of the ICU nurses who are certified to...

  5. Titrating drugs: dosages or CC's

    TennRN2004 replied to dorimar's topic in MICU, SICU

    You'll get there. Each day it becomes easier and easier. I honestly think the hardest part for me was distinguishing between what is a huge deal in the unit, and what it's okay to watch in the ICU. I...

  6. Want to Discuss Hearts?

    TennRN2004 replied to nedanurse's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    So, where do you guys want to start? I'll give you a run down of how it is where I work. Six surgeon cardiac thoracic team, do an average of 3-4 CABs daily, lots of thoracic cases also, a few AAAs,...

  7. eating our young?

    TennRN2004 replied to happytobehere's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    It is obvious that each of us has experiences with staff in ICUs that cause us to lean one way or the other- ie new grads in ICU or not. However, for those of you who think new grads can't do well in...

  8. Nursing is hard!

    TennRN2004 replied to cardiacRN2006's topic in MICU, SICU

    It does get better. Hang in there. I remember asking when I was new how long does it take until you can go through a shift and not constantly doubt yourself and everything you do. The reply I got was...

  9. Want to Discuss Hearts?

    TennRN2004 replied to nedanurse's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    Hi nedanurse! I work in a SICU that has hearts on one side with general surgeries on the other. I love the hearts! They are my favorite type of patient. I would definitely like to see more threads...

  10. Titrating drugs: dosages or CC's

    TennRN2004 replied to dorimar's topic in MICU, SICU

    I'm sorry cardiac, I missed the point of your post. I was not distinguishing between titrating and actual charting. I will tell you in my practice, 99% of the time I titrate based on drug dose. Now, I...

  11. No Beds, No Bumpable Patients!

    TennRN2004 replied to JAtwellRN's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    We do not hold a code bed in any of our units (SIC,MIC,CCU). My favorite is when we come in and the other two units are full (I work SIC), so we start filling up with the respiratory distress from the...

  12. VAD and the Nurse Practice Act

    TennRN2004 replied to nedanurse's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    I would say that's a malpractice suit waiting to happen. A new grad needs to be trained on a fresh stable heart population, understand in depth the hemodynamics of heart surgery, and the normal...

  13. eating our young?

    TennRN2004 replied to happytobehere's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    I honestly feel I can comment from both sides of this argument. I was a new grad in the ICU, was off orientation early, wanted to learn, made myself available whenever a patient was crashing in...

  14. NS for CO

    TennRN2004 replied to Cleveland-RN's topic in MICU, SICU

    We have the vigilence monitors which can be connected to a swan for continuous CO/CI, but to my knowledge, we only use the vigilence in septic patients and we have never used the continuous CI/CO...

  15. Titrating drugs: dosages or CC's

    TennRN2004 replied to dorimar's topic in MICU, SICU

    I always chart both. You should always always know the dose of drug your patient is on. For example, got a patient from the ER on Dopamine the other night on __ cc's of Dopa. How much is that? The max...

  16. Pulling chest tubes..

    TennRN2004 replied to gwlillith's topic in MICU, SICU

    We don't pull anything in my unit. The surgeons or their nurses do it. You have to have some type of certification I think to do it (it may be the CCRN like someone else said in my state, I'm not...

  17. square wave test

    TennRN2004 replied to monkeyman1000's topic in MICU, SICU

    We use it all the time in my unit. Whenever I see a nibp and aline not correlating well, it's the first thing I think of. It can be a big problem in my unit because we do open hearts and they like to...

  18. Getting in a program

    TennRN2004 replied to TennRN2004's topic in Student Registered Nurse Anesthetist

    I realize you are right in that it can be a help or a hurt to "know" people on the admissions committee. I guess I just see it as being unfair because it seems like certain select people get an easy...

  19. square wave test

    TennRN2004 replied to monkeyman1000's topic in MICU, SICU

    Yep, we call the dampening device a Rose in my unit. It can be especially helpful if you are seeing a big difference between your cuff and your aline of 30-40 points, it will usually bring them closer...

  20. ICU Pod System

    TennRN2004 replied to FGHburg's topic in MICU, SICU

    I have heard of some new hospitals up north that do heart surgeries and the patients stay in the same room from arrival from the OR to the time they discharge. The fresh heart surgeries are usually...

  21. Staffing issues and Regulations?? HELP!!!

    TennRN2004 replied to RNforLongTime's topic in MICU, SICU

    What do you do if you have to go to the bathroom? I guess you have to hold it for 12 hours until you get home, so no lunch break either. I personally would not feel comfortable calling even my nursing...

  22. Circ Arrest

    TennRN2004 replied to rn29306's topic in Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, CRNA

    We see these very rarely post op in the ICU. The patients we see are homografts with aortic root replacement. It was amazing to have the surgeon explain to us one night how he actually performs the...

  23. Swan Lines

    TennRN2004 replied to 2ndChance's topic in Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, CRNA

    Our heart surgeons would have a stroke if our hearts didn't have swans. We have one surgeon who doesn't want the Swan pulled until the patient is actually transferring out to the floor. He expects us...

  24. Giving/Getting Report

    TennRN2004 replied to Lorilei-RN-in05's topic in MICU, SICU

    It helps as a new nurse to jot down some notes when you're getting report. For example, any tests or procedures the pt may have in the am and need to be NPO after midnight for? You may get crazy busy...

  25. Is there any RN who never made a mistake?

    TennRN2004 replied to ICUMish's topic in MICU, SICU

    don't you just want to smack nurses like that? i know how frustrated i would get on nights i'd be running my butt off, like transfusing blood left and right with a gi bleeder and a confused one...