EmilyCCRN

EmilyCCRN

Critical Care, Cardiac Cath Lab

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All Content by EmilyCCRN

  1. Pinning Ceremony Attire

    EmilyCCRN posted a topic in General Students

    What are you required to wear to your pinning ceremony? My class will wear graduation gowns (no caps), but previous classes have worn the whole silly get-up. Since my school has a graduation AND a...

  2. Help me understand

    EmilyCCRN replied to BrnEyedGirl's topic in Emergency

    Anti-platelet therapy depends on several things, such as whether the patient received a bare metal or drug-eluting stent. Generally speaking, all stented patients should take ASA "indefinitely" and...

  3. What HAVE you said to patients???

    EmilyCCRN replied to jessi1106's topic in General Nursing

    I was called in at 0300 one night for an anterior STEMI. As we were wheeling (i.e. running) the pt to the cath lab, he starts going off about how "I have insurance! Don't kill me because you don't...

  4. Door to ct time for strokes

    EmilyCCRN replied to nurse ninja's topic in Emergency

    EKG results in 45 minutes? No way! An EKG needs to be interpreted immediately to rule out STEMI, new onset LBBB, etc. In 45 minutes the patient can lose a lot of muscle...and/or DIE...hopefully...

  5. Any cath lab RNs required to take the RCIS?

    EmilyCCRN replied to inthelab's topic in Cardiac

    Holy cow! I would NOT want to be a patient in a lab where non-RNs are allowed to mix and give drugs. To answer the OP's question, no, we are not required to take the RCIS. The CCRN is a more...

  6. Groin Prep for Cardiac Cath

    EmilyCCRN replied to sguthland's topic in Emergency

    You have NO IDEA how long I've been beating my head against the wall over this issue. My "life" before nursing was in the IT realm, so the way technology-related items are handled in my facility...

  7. CCRN with tele experience?

    EmilyCCRN replied to jennysong81's topic in MICU, SICU

    It sounds like the PCCN exam could be appropriate for you, then, if you have the minimum number of hours, etc. Good luck with your studies!

  8. PCU/ICU Prioritization Tips

    EmilyCCRN replied to MCS,RN's topic in MICU, SICU

    Just my , but a patient who is 6 hours post-PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention - 'PTCA' is not used very much anymore) should be pretty darn stable, especially compared to the other patients in...

  9. CCRN with tele experience?

    EmilyCCRN replied to jennysong81's topic in MICU, SICU

    Good answer! :) To the OP, I would recommend taking a look at the exam blueprints for the PCCN and CCRN exams to see what seems to fit your job description the best. At my facility, for example, the...

  10. Groin Prep for Cardiac Cath

    EmilyCCRN replied to sguthland's topic in Emergency

    It is disheartening to read some of these comments, because aren't we ALL supposed to be caring for the acute MI patient here? The "us against them" mentality is really unfortunate and has the...

  11. what is the shortest amount of time you've lasted at a nursing job?

    EmilyCCRN replied to HappyNurse2005's topic in General Nursing

    I was hired onto a horrible 46-bed combined ICU stepdown/ medical telemetry floor right out of school. We took five patients each and had no CNA's, so we were responsible for all of our own vitals,...

  12. As a CNA, I'm now the assistant to the CMO, should I stay? Help!

    EmilyCCRN replied to work&play's topic in General Nursing

    You may need to contact the BON to find out whether your hours will count toward your certificate. A lot of administrative-type jobs/tasks can count toward licensure, but the BON should be able to...

  13. Nurses Week Ideas, Celebrations

    EmilyCCRN replied to MPHgrad's topic in General Nursing

    My hospital actually does a decent job celebrating Nurses Week. Last year we had a different event every day, including having our CNO and other administrators make us ice cream sundaes and Italian...

  14. Familiar with "American HealthCare Training?"

    EmilyCCRN replied to oregonbeach's topic in Oregon Nursing

    When I started nursing school in 2004, Washington County did my fingerprint card for me. I think it was under $10. I would check with your local county government to see how to do it. Good

  15. Literature Review Topics..HELP!!!

    EmilyCCRN replied to Xavier01's topic in Post Graduate Students

    What about something like "acupuncture versus narcotics used for pain control in individuals with chronic back pain"? Good luck!

  16. Anyone having trouble with min. hours to retain licensure?

    EmilyCCRN replied to hereagain's topic in Oregon Nursing

    I think that certain types of volunteer work can also count toward your hours, and could possibly help your job prospects. Good

  17. Safety of heparin IV vs SQ

    EmilyCCRN replied to sunnyskiesRN's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    ...and it can be reversed with protamine, unlike LMW heparin (i.e. Lovenox).

  18. Safety of heparin IV vs SQ

    EmilyCCRN replied to sunnyskiesRN's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    5,000 units of unfractionated heparin given IV push is actually a pretty standard dose given to acute MI patients before starting a IIb-IIIa inhibitor (like Integrilin). The standard dose for...

  19. Things Patients Have Taught Me NOT To Do

    EmilyCCRN replied to Trixxy's topic in Nursing Humor

    Did I mention that I love this thread? Here are more "gems" I have personally encountered: ...when you can't pee, don't wait THREE days before telling anyone about it, or else you might wind up in...

  20. PTO - how much do you get at your hospital?

    EmilyCCRN replied to Lola77's topic in General Nursing

    I get 205 hours per year. After five years of employment it goes up by a few hours (I think it goes up to 220-something). Last I heard, my hospital provided the most PLH (paid leave hours) in my...

  21. Job offer

    EmilyCCRN replied to lion09's topic in General Nursing

    I would imagine that it's just like it would be in any other profession. Unless you signed a contract, there's no legal reason you couldn't turn it down, but you run the risk of burning some bridges...

  22. Has anyone heard of Western Governor's University?

    EmilyCCRN replied to StillHoping's topic in Western Governors University

    EXACTLY what I was thinking! Sounds like "school envy" to me! With respect to WGU, I don't know much about the nursing program (except that it's obviously accredited--DUH!), but I know someone who...

  23. How far did you or are commuting to and from work/school?

    EmilyCCRN replied to luckystudentnurseRN's topic in General Nursing

    I drove about 45 minutes each way when I was in nursing school, and I would have driven 2 hours each way if that's what it took. :) My work commute is now 10 blocks (yippee!) and my school (MSN...

  24. arterial sheath pulling post catheterizations

    EmilyCCRN replied to anurse4life's topic in Critical Care

    I agree that only "highly-trained" personnel should be pulling sheaths, and cath lab techs (radiology techs and UAPs such as CVTs) generally have extensive experience in this arena. It is important...

  25. Learn To Say It Correctly!!

    EmilyCCRN replied to SheriLynnRN's topic in General Nursing

    One of my colleagues calls Valium "val-ee-oom". It drives me