ICUkids

Never heard of RT's running the ECMO circuit. We send any ECMO pts to the ICN. They sometimes have a problem with the size issue (up to teenagers, but the PICU/ICN Critical Care Floats do the pt care side) we don't get enough ECMO pts to warrent training and maintaining competencies. In the ICN they have 2 RN's. Diana

Pamela A, You incurred the wrath of an angry subscriber, God would be more tolerant. I acknowlege the stress of the situation and tell the person that I will not tolerate the behavior. I have been in mgmt and am back at the bedside. I have a better understanding of what my obligations and resources are. Altho I firmly believe in patient advocacy I believe there is always a way to grease the wheels. I try to pass this on to those who are trying to hoe the difficult path to good health care for their loved ones. Sometimes you just need to point out that certain behaviors give a person minus points. Letting these kinds of experiences run off our backs is never easy, takes practice. Backup from mgmt is key. In any job. D.

Thanks for posting the story. I hadn't heard about it and I work in a major pedi cardiac center! The PICU docs share some of the RN's frustration about the cardiac cases. Even they find out late "incidences" that happened in the OR that make a difference in treating recovery period. One of the surgeons is a micromanager and tho it may irritate some he is always there for questions and answers. But we did have a case years ago about euthanasia. MD vs RN. Guess who was most impacted? We were told it was the difference of the disciplinary actions between AMA and Nsg. Guess I should be proud my profession has higher standards, but the RN's involved in this incident were basically witnesses. Certainly a learning experience!! I do feel I am listened to if only with half an ear, there is a RN anethisiolgist on the cardiac team who is excellent about taking feedback to the OR. We have had our problems but the worst ones have been moved on to other (unfortunate) pastures. D.

Boomboom, Check out the possibilities in your area. Do you have any acute care experience? Kids physiology is different than geriatric population. But motivation to learn always makes a difference. Good luck and let us know what you decide. With the nursing shortage now is the time if a person wants to change direction in career. Diana

Thanks Allnurses!! PICU is very specialized and I'm always finding myself trying to check off both boxes on surveys, ICU and Peds but it never really fits well. So I wrote Allnurses to ask if there could be a forum for PICU RN's and here it is in one day. Guess I'll have to check in alot more frequently! I've been a PICU RN for 14 yrs, back then it was in the middle of a nursing shortage (HAH) and I was hired as a new grad!! I love what I do and even though I sometimes think about changing I can never think of something else I would want to do more. I have done mgmt but am back at the bedside. Would love to hear from anyone else. We are presently preparing for JCAHO, starting another training program and trying to staff with lots of short term travelors to fill in the gaps. A bit of a challenge considereing our acuity and census turnover. Don't forget to take care of yourselves too!

We must have great scheduling policies cause it goes by senority and holidays worked the last year. I got both Christmas and New Years off, worked Thanksgiving. (One of the perks for sticking around a few years) Christmas was wonderful. I keep the tree up til after New Years. Hope you all have a Happy and Safe one.