heartICU

heartICU

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All Content by heartICU

  1. CRNAs working with surgeons

    heartICU replied to apaisRN's topic in Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, CRNA

    I worked in a CTICU for a year prior to CRNA school, and I have to say that the residents/fellows were incredibly responsive to nurse input. The staff for the most part were very nice, but as you...

  2. Starting school tomorrow

    heartICU replied to rshores95's topic in Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, CRNA

    I just started my first semester last week for the class of Dec 2006 also...and I know I can't complain yet, but I am tired already! I think it is going to be great though....I will keep everyone...

  3. Etomidate

    heartICU replied to LadyBugLass's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    We usually give between 6-10cc...we don't use propofol routinely for cardioversion because a good chunk of the patients we are cardioverting are extubated. I am just beginning CRNA school so I am only...

  4. Etomidate

    heartICU replied to LadyBugLass's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    We give etomidate prior to elective

  5. When to apply?

    heartICU replied to Vin's topic in Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, CRNA

    The requirement is that you have one year experience in the ICU when you START the program...I started in the ICU in June 2003, applied in Dec 2003, and got accepted, pending the completion of my year...

  6. What is the difference?

    heartICU replied to babynursewannab's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    In our hospital, the CICU takes all medical cardiology patients....i.e. rule out MI's, cardiogenic shock, post-stents/interventions, etc. Our CVICU/CTICU takes post-op open heart surgery patients....

  7. personal statement

    heartICU replied to meg228's topic in Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, CRNA

    Just be honest as to why you are interested, etc. Typically most applications I saw wanted 12pt font, either Times New Roman or Arial, and one-inch margins (typical APA format). Admissions committees...

  8. IV push or Bag? Whats best for MICU nurses?

    heartICU replied to sonia's topic in MICU, SICU

    Well, in all honesty it depends on the medication and the patient situation. If your patient is coding, you don't have time to hang a bag of medication 30 minutes or however long it takes to infuse....

  9. Would you still take the CCRN exam...?

    heartICU replied to MaleAPRN's topic in Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, CRNA

    I found out that I got into CRNA school in January, yet still scheduled my CCRN exam and took it a few weeks ago (and passed). It was important to me to take and pass the test (as I had already put...

  10. PA Line help

    heartICU replied to froglegs's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    Our PA lines have five ports (we also use the Swan-Ganz): --the blue one is for measuring CVP/RAP --the yellow one measures the PA pressures --the clear one is our med port (VIP/Venous Infusion Port)...

  11. Resource books

    heartICU replied to jewelcutt's topic in Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, CRNA

    I have a couple of books on my booklist that are listed as "recommended but not required." Anyone have any feedback on any of the following books? Dorsch & Dorsch Understanding Anesthesia...

  12. Insulin gtt questions

    heartICU replied to nurses4all's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    I work in a CTICU, and we have run insulin gtts as low as 1-2 cc/hour. Our standard concentration for the gtt is 1:1 (1 unit per cc). However, we are usually running them with other meds that are...

  13. how many times can a human be defibrillated?

    heartICU replied to TinyNurse's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    I work in a CTICU, and in some of our VAD patients, the heart becomes extremely irritable. There was one patient fresh from the OR with a HeartMate LVAD that we shocked over 200 (yes, two hundred!)...

  14. Giving IV Mg++ Without A Serum Level?

    heartICU replied to Leslie1986's topic in General Nursing

    I work in a CTICU and we give Mag to patients who are having frequent PACs, PVCs, or develop atrial

  15. CCRN Exam?

    heartICU replied to LesJenRN's topic in MICU, SICU

    I just took mine last Friday and passed. As it was my first CCRN exam, I had no experience with the previous version. However, I finished the test in an hour and twenty minutes, and found out my...

  16. Giving IV Mg++ Without A Serum Level?

    heartICU replied to Leslie1986's topic in General Nursing

    In most cases, yes, I would feel comfortable giving it without a previous serum level. Magnesium is a relatively safe drug to give...in that I mean that it takes a lot of supplemental magnesium to...

  17. Letters of condolence

    heartICU replied to RoadRunner's topic in MICU, SICU

    I work in a CTICU and we don't have a formal process for doing it, but we do it on occasion for patients and families we have gotten to know pretty well. Usually we just get a card and the...

  18. Sony Versus Olympus

    heartICU replied to trakstar's topic in Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, CRNA

    I am also looking for a quality digital recorder for class lectures...I really don't care what brand it is as long as I can transfer the recordings to a CD and they are audible. Anyone out there have...

  19. Who went straight to ICU after getting your BSN

    heartICU replied to UpwardMobility's topic in Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, CRNA

    I also went straight to the ICU after graduation with my BSN. I worked as a tech in that unit for three years during nursing school though. Like others have said, if you have a supportive new grad...

  20. which one do you use in your cvicu?

    heartICU replied to haa's topic in MICU, SICU

    Multiple invasive lines (swans, PA thermistors, LA lines, triple lumens, quad lumens, Quintons, Hickmans) Arterial lines CVVHD/CAVHD Chest tubes/JPs intubation/trach Multiple VADs (balloon pumps,...

  21. Does Anyone Use The Bispectral Index (BIS) Routinely To Assess Sedation?

    heartICU replied to steve0123's topic in MICU, SICU

    My hospital uses it somewhat frequently, but typically in my unit we use it only for patients that are receiving paralytics. Since you can't assess sedation level while patients are paralyzed, we use...

  22. ECMO

    heartICU replied to 3230's topic in PICU, Pediatric

    I know the posting is for kids on ECMO but I have experience with adults on ECMO support. We do have some patients that are able to be weaned off and do well. Our patients who typically do better or...

  23. Need a good ICU book

    heartICU replied to erinnRN's topic in General Nursing

    If you are looking for books for cardiothoracic surgical nursing, I have a couple that are really good. Cardiothoracic Surgical Nursing by Betsy A. Finkelmeier (ISBN 0781717132) is great, and Cardiac...

  24. Need a good ICU book

    heartICU replied to erinnRN's topic in MICU, SICU

    If you are looking for books for cardiothoracic surgical nursing, I have a couple that are really good. Cardiothoracic Surgical Nursing by Betsy A. Finkelmeier (ISBN 0781717132) is great, and Cardiac...