umcRN BSN, RN

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All Content by umcRN

  1. umcRN

    PCT vs. CNA: hiring trends in Massachusetts

    umcRN replied to Pavolga's topic in Massachusetts Nursing

    I was in a BSN program and worked the summer before my senior year (so I had a year of clinical behind me). I did do some additional training provided by the hospital that basically went over their...
  2. umcRN

    PCT vs. CNA: hiring trends in Massachusetts

    umcRN replied to Pavolga's topic in Massachusetts Nursing

    I worked as a summer PCT at the Brigham when I was in school. I did EKG's but no phlebotomy (although I did do finger sticks for glucoses). Not really sure how they differentiate in different...
  3. umcRN

    Kidney transplant qualifications

    umcRN posted a topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    I am not a renal nurse so please bear with me. I work in a peds cardiac intensive care unit. On our unit we currently have a toddler who recently underwent a heart transplant. Pt had essentially been...
  4. umcRN

    What's your facility's policy? new PIV tubing to new CVL

    umcRN replied to ANB RN's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    We never go peripheral to central, we always string new bags and tubings though I don't have any links, but it is in our policy so I could probably dig some up if I had a
  5. umcRN

    Thermoregulation and regularity of temp checks?

    umcRN replied to MistyM's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    If they have weaned out of the isolette and can hold their temp dressed & swaddled then no, but if they get cold more than two temp checks in a row it's back on the
  6. umcRN

    Thermoregulation and regularity of temp checks?

    umcRN replied to MistyM's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    yes we use skin probes on ALL babies and our isoletts adjust depending on what the babies need. This just seems so unsafe to
  7. umcRN

    CVICU to Peds CVICU...any advice?

    umcRN replied to peaches1213's topic in PICU, Pediatric

    Yes. The hearts. That's something else entirely. The best advice I can give you for that is that while you're on orientation (and after) get a picture drawn of every heart you care for, because odds...
  8. umcRN

    CVICU to Peds CVICU...any advice?

    umcRN replied to peaches1213's topic in PICU, Pediatric

    Welcome! As I'm sure you know, peds is going to be VASTLY different from adults. Starting with the basics - vital signs. Pediatric vitals are quite different from adults and different ages have...
  9. umcRN

    Thermoregulation and regularity of temp checks?

    umcRN replied to MistyM's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    You have babies in isoletts without continuous temp monitoring? That seems extremely dangerous. All babies in an isolette or a warmer have a temp probe in place. It's not always 100% accurate but you...
  10. umcRN

    Giving injections to babies

    umcRN replied to Dragonstrike's topic in General Nursing

    Diabetes? Congenital heart disease (many require lovenox...I give it daily) Another blood disorder? There are endless possibilities. Welcome to the world of
  11. umcRN

    Double Fluid mess ups

    umcRN replied to anon456's topic in First Year After Licensure

    I work in a pedi cardiac icu so double running fluids is a big no no and we always go down on fluids as we advance feeds whether its ordered or not. Now on the other side of that the thing that irks...
  12. umcRN

    The LEAST critically ill kid you've cared for in PICU :)

    umcRN replied to meanmaryjean's topic in PICU, Pediatric

    Exactly! Not many ICU nurses want to keep that screaming 10 month old who just wants to be held and entertained
  13. umcRN

    Foreign Transplants

    umcRN replied to KittyLovinRN's topic in General Nursing

    So children should be
  14. umcRN

    Definition of Hemodynamically unstable...

    umcRN replied to FenRN's topic in MICU, SICU

    I don't really have any sources for you, just an opintion. Just about any patient in the ICU is going to be "unstable" or "critical" in some way, unless they're waiting to transfer to the floor. In...
  15. umcRN

    I'm a BSN student and just got a PCA position at a Children's Hospital - tips?

    umcRN replied to lumosnox's topic in Pediatric

    One thing I really appreciate as a nurse is when techs actually sit and play with my patients. I work ICU so it's rare to have a kiddo that needs to be entertained but when they do it's usually first...
  16. umcRN

    The LEAST critically ill kid you've cared for in PICU :)

    umcRN replied to meanmaryjean's topic in PICU, Pediatric

    Sigh. Every one of our post bt-shunt/norwood sano babies who cry on the step down and turn blue. Get rapid response on the floor, sent to us, pop a paci in the kids mouth, swaddle and off to sleep...
  17. umcRN

    Foreign Transplants

    umcRN replied to KittyLovinRN's topic in General Nursing

    UNOS will decide who has the greater need. There are A LOT of factors taken into consideration which include but are not limited to age, size, blood type, the patients PRA level, length of time on the...
  18. umcRN

    Shift change and visitation in ICU/stepdown

    umcRN replied to opossum's topic in MICU, SICU

    Interesting. Must be different in the adult world. I work peds and we have 24/7 visitation for the parents (anyone else from 10-8 and two people at the bedside only and that includes parents). I still...
  19. umcRN

    Thoracentesis collection bottle shortage

    umcRN replied to bwadds's topic in Critical Care

    We had a shortage of Epi. Not Kidding! I work on a pedi cardiac ICU and we use Epi like it's candy some weeks. I called pharmacy because we were out of Epi in our Pyxis (for certain things like chest...
  20. umcRN

    Low blood pressure great neurological status?

    umcRN replied to umcRN's topic in PICU, Pediatric

    Yeah I was reading about sildenafil being metabolized by the liver...I don't know. I'm off work now for a week so I won't really know how this theory is panning out. His PH is not bad, actually wasn't...
  21. umcRN

    Low blood pressure great neurological status?

    umcRN replied to umcRN's topic in PICU, Pediatric

    Sadly I don't think my hospital is quite there yet with the berlins. We've only been doing them for about a year or so and only as bridge to transplant. Haven't taken anyone off yet. As it is the kid...
  22. umcRN

    Low blood pressure great neurological status?

    umcRN replied to umcRN's topic in PICU, Pediatric

    Post transplant? and await transplant
  23. umcRN

    Low blood pressure great neurological status?

    umcRN replied to umcRN's topic in PICU, Pediatric

    As an update to this, kiddo couldn't last 12 hours without his beloved vasopressin, and then epi (as well as a total of 30ml/kg fluid), but still waves at anyone who walks by, blows kisses and begs...
  24. umcRN

    Low blood pressure great neurological status?

    umcRN replied to umcRN's topic in PICU, Pediatric

    Oh no, this kiddo was not trached, nasally intubated, never once has tried to pull the tube out (although is restrained if someone isn't sitting right there). Yes, sitting up in a tumble foam chair,...
  25. umcRN

    Losing hope

    umcRN replied to ualskyguy's topic in Massachusetts Nursing

    Umass Amherst also DOES have practicum placements in Boston (your last semester). Placements are first come/first serve and they typically give first pick to the RN-BSN students. That being said job...