arnwest

arnwest

Trauma/Surgery ICU

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All Content by arnwest

  1. ICU Float Nurse

    arnwest replied to Ashley.Hop's topic in Critical Care

    Most neurosurgeons I've worked with would not let us sedate our patients unless they had ICP issues or were seizing (we might get low-dose dex or prop). Patients can be awake with an EVD and even...

  2. Syracuse City ED RN Jobs?

    arnwest replied to purdue1014's topic in New York Nursing

    I used to work at Upstate in one of the ICUs. They're a level-I trauma and burn center, so it's definitely the best hospital in the area for trauma (in fact, they're the only trauma center between...

  3. Needless Intravenous Connectors

    arnwest replied to rj27's topic in Critical Care

    We don't use caps/claves on our pressure lines or our continuous low-rate infusions (i.e., dilaudid, vaso). I'm not sure of the brand our caps, but our venous access team has been cracking down on...

  4. Experienced CRNA...ask me anything

    arnwest replied to 06crna's topic in Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, CRNA

    I'm the process of researching CRNA programs and have noticed that a lot of schools are switching from masters to DNP programs. Besides the advantages of being well-suited for research and teaching as...

  5. Thinking of travel nursing, where to start

    arnwest replied to vzcookie's topic in Travel

    Get an ICU assignment. Most places will just float you to the floor

  6. Use of backup saline infusions for medication infusions in ICU

    arnwest replied to taif1's topic in Critical Care

    Our CVICU uses an anesthesia stopcock system - kind of. They stopcock all of the compatible drips together (one is always a carrier) and tape the line of stopcocks to the IV pole so it's just one line...

  7. Surgical ICU Interview

    arnwest replied to njnewbie's topic in MICU, SICU

    I got hired into the SICU right out of nursing school, but as you said, your area sounds like it has a greater abundance of experienced candidates to choose from. I got a call-back on an application...

  8. Vasopressin vs. Levophed

    arnwest replied to sugarmagnoliaRN's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    My understanding is that it depends on what kind of shock the patient is in. According to Surviving Sepsis, levo is the first line pressor, followed by vaso, to decrease levo requirements. Sometimes...

  9. Newly Qualified Adult Nurse

    arnwest replied to ICUNurse141's topic in United Kingdom

    First off, congratulations on the job offer. I must say that I'm a little surprised that you were offered a position so far in the future. What does your cadiothoracic and neurology experience consist...

  10. Is it appropriate to apply for jobs before you graduate?

    arnwest replied to cantwaittograduate1's topic in Nursing Career

    Like everyone else said, it probably depends on the company where you're applying. My experience, however, was this: I applied for, interviewed and secured a job about a month before I graduated from...

  11. Clinical tidbits I wish someone would've told me.

    arnwest replied to Mully's topic in MICU, SICU

    Before traveling to MRI, make sure your patient is small enough to fit in the machine. (If they're on the heavy side, I always call the tech up to measure them beforehand. It's saved us both a lot of...

  12. Mobilizing While On CRRT

    arnwest replied to yoj1001's topic in Critical Care

    We've done it with a couple of patients who were on CVVH for weeks, once they were stabilized, but just couldn't tolerate hemo. We didn't get them up to walk, just slid them out of bed to the chair....

  13. Upstate Jobs

    arnwest replied to Fruit Sucker's topic in New York Nursing

    Most of the Upstate hospitals hire ADNs, at least to my knowledge. I had no issues getting a job. Good

  14. New grad moving to Seattle - need advice and help

    arnwest replied to guest2512's topic in Nursing Career

    I would recommend waiting at least a year, especially if you have an ICU position. I applied to several ICU positions throughout Seattle/Tacoma after about a year and a half of ICU experience (in NY)...

  15. first RN paycheck?

    arnwest replied to nauticaburt561's topic in General Nursing

    I finally filled my gas tank to full! I had been working for a full month before I got my paycheck and you better believe both my checking account and car were running on

  16. ATT and NCLEX - GNs

    arnwest posted a topic in NCLEX Exam, Programs

    Have any May graduates received their ATTs yet? I graduate this week and want to take my boards ASAP so I can start working! I've heard that New York takes like 3-4 weeks around this time of year...

  17. When did you "know?"

    arnwest replied to TarheelGirlx3's topic in General Students

    See about shadowing a nurse in a different setting (maybe acute or critical care). I shadowed a respiratory therapist for a day during nursing school and her assignment happened to be in a CVICU. I...

  18. Can I wear my scrubs to an interview?

    arnwest replied to uhohbube's topic in General Students

    We were told for RN interviews absolutely not to wear scrubs. They said they'd be happy to point us to a changing room before the interviewed us. This is all from our HR dept to my class in nursing...

  19. New Grads in the ICU - Summer 2013

    arnwest replied to blueorchid981's topic in Critical Care

    The 4 weeks in classroom sounds beneficial, but only 14 shifts with a preceptor? I think most of the acclimation to an ICU takes place by working on the floor and that just doesn't sound like a long...

  20. ETT Securement and Position Change

    arnwest replied to SticU <3's topic in MICU, SICU

    I worked at a large teaching hospital and we use tape. I didn't know there was any other way. It's changed q 24h and as far as I know we haven't had issues with skin breakdown. I also did a clinical...

  21. Moving to upstate NY in the next year...ED Nurse

    arnwest replied to rende's topic in New York Nursing

    St. Joseph's in Syracuse is currently expanding their ED. From what I've heard they have the best pay in the area. They do a lot of ortho, cardiac (they're huge on vascular surgeries), birthing...

  22. New Grads in the ICU - Summer 2013

    arnwest replied to blueorchid981's topic in Critical Care

    I got my quick results today and I

  23. Taking NCLEX - RN tomorrow...

    arnwest replied to HomeGrownMichiganRN's topic in NCLEX Exam, Programs

    I finished mine in about an hour with 75 questions. Like 3 math, probably 8 SATA, one graphic, a few click and drags, no hot spots. Lots of obscure drugs though! Well, I got the good pop up, so I...

  24. Taking NCLEX - RN tomorrow...

    arnwest replied to HomeGrownMichiganRN's topic in NCLEX Exam, Programs

    I'm taking mine tomorrow too. On one hand, I'm pretty confident. My school has pass rates of like 95%. Yet on the other hand, I feel so inadequately prepared... I've been getting 70s on all the...

  25. New Grads in the ICU - Summer 2013

    arnwest replied to blueorchid981's topic in Critical Care

    I agree, this was a good thread idea. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one stepping out of school into an icu. I'm going to a S/TICU for a level 1 trauma center. It's exciting to be in a place where...