ICULINDA

We use propofol and fentanyl. I've noticed we are moving more towards precidex and fentanyl. Depending on the patient we may use versed and fentanyl. I know I would have bad anxiety and freak out if I woke up intubated I would pull my ETT out. I do try and titrate to the lowest dose and our docs will through in some PRNs to try and help with anxiety as we titrate down. It's still hard on the patient though. We have given lidocaine to swab the throat so the patient doesn't feel the tube as much. This helps with some of the "choking" feeling. The ones that are awake say the choking feelings are the worst. Family presence helps. The patient knows the family voice and is sometimes able to help distract them or keep them calm when we do SBTs.

I guess I'm lucky that in our ICU the ratio is 1:2 unless the patient is CRRT then it's 1:1 balloon pumps 1:1 and ECMO 2:1 hope the other hospitals follow. PCU 1:3 with a PCT. Sent from my iPad using allnurses.com

Some books I bought new some used some borrowed....haha like a wedding....I worked at a hospital that allowed me to check out books. Go to evolve website and see if they sell the sims codes separately. Sent from my iPad using allnurses.com

We didn't use the Simms CDS we used ATI which had all the modules we needed. It was supplied by the school.

I love my CCRN book and my Kathy White fast fact binder

In the meantime enjoy your freedoms and family

Your schedule is usually give in to you at orientation which is about a month before school starts. That's also when they give you your book list. If your not able to borrow or check out from a hosp you work for save up books are expensive. Shop and compare prices. Financial aide usually gets posted in sept if you have any left over you'll get it in oct. At least that's how is was when I went through.

Congrats! icufaqs.com is a great place to start. Sent from my iPad using allnurses.com

I seen one on Facebook or Pinterest. Chief complaint was "unable to eat diarrhea" lol shows how important punctuation is. Sent from my iPad using allnurses.com

Wow, that ratio for ICU seems dangerous and overwhelming. How do you do it? Sent from my iPad using allnurses.com

ICU ratio 1:2 or 1:1. Sent from my iPad using allnurses.com

All new hires for the ED have to do a couple shadowing rotations in the Icu so they can see what we do and why we ask the things we ask during report. It does help in the beginning until they start to pick up bad habits. Sent from my iPad using allnurses.com

Congratulations everyone! Good luck in your nursing program. If anyone needs help I'd be more than happy. I still mentor 3 students currently at GCU. From one alumni to all you future alumni good luck and congratulations;) Sent from my iPad using allnurses.com