RNerd81

RNerd81 has 9 years experience and specializes in Critical Care, Cardiology, Education.

Latest Activity

1. Mayo Clinic Reality

   RNerd81 replied to PACNWNURSING's topic in General Nursing

   It makes me sad to hear of your experience in Florida. Unfortunately, I've heard the same from a colleague that worked there for a very short time (she left and came back to Minnesota for precisely...

2. Help Needed!!! Call to Organ Donation Center and Induced Hypothermia

   RNerd81 replied to ICURNer's topic in Critical Care

   This is a very grey area. I included the webpage from LifeSource on referral triggers. The catch is that if you are using neuromuscular blockade as part of your protocol, many of these tests for...

3. New Grad ICU Need Encouragment

   RNerd81 replied to Rl3232's topic in Critical Care

   I'm really sorry you're going through this. I don't want that for you. Things are much better in other places. You are dealing with a very unhealthy (read: toxic) work environment. There are many...

4. chf and ventilator understanding

   RNerd81 replied to soon2bbam's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

   One other thing I might mention...a patient with CHF may breathe better without the ventilator. This is jumping way ahead (because I'm assuming that pulmonary edema is resolved), but being placed on...

5. What are my chances at Mayo?

   RNerd81 replied to Sinman's topic in General Nursing

   I am a nurse in the medical cardiac ICU and I did hear that the hiring pause is lifted. It sounds like you have a great background. My only advice is perseverance. I have not heard of any automated...

6. New grad program in Mayo Clinic

   RNerd81 replied to whichone'spink's topic in General Nursing

   I've heard through the grapevine that Mayo Rochester is looking into the feasibility and benefits vs. drawbacks of a nursing "residency" program. It's my understanding that nursing residency is a...

7. Transition to Comfort Care in the ICU: Bedside Monitor On or Off?

   RNerd81 replied to RNerd81's topic in Critical Care

   So, do you question the motivation of the family for wanting the monitor on? Do you think it's morbid curiosity? If the monitor is on, does that detract from a "good" death? Does having the monitor...

8. Brainstorming needed!

   RNerd81 replied to lafutura's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

   If you're really Type-A, you may prefer a Cardiac Surgical ICU over a Cardiac Medical ICU. In Cardiac Surg, there is a lot of bean-counting...chest tube output, urine output, CRRT, titrate drip A...

9. Transition to Comfort Care in the ICU: Bedside Monitor On or Off?

   RNerd81 posted a topic in Critical Care

   Recently, I had a new nurse approach me and pose this question: How do I shut off all of my bedside alarms but keep the data on the screen? At first I wondered why in the world the nurse would want...

10. Mayo Clinic Reality

    RNerd81 replied to PACNWNURSING's topic in General Nursing

    I have been a nurse at St. Mary's Hospital at Mayo Clinic in Rochester for 7 years now, and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I grew up in Southern California, and the job at Mayo is what now...

11. How inactive must a patient be to develop a DVT?

    RNerd81 replied to Capp's topic in General Students

    Virchow's Triad: 1. Venous stasis (not moving) 2. Vascular trauma 3. Hypercoagulable state Your question revolves around #1...even normally healthy people get DVTs on long plane flights. There is...

12. Do you have to take CCRN exam to stay in ICU?

    RNerd81 replied to ~passionateSN~'s topic in Critical Care

    CCRN is absolutely not mandatory. You can work your entire career without CCRN certification and not have a problem. That being said, CCRN certification (or any specialty certification for that...

13. What would you have done?

    RNerd81 replied to cm8816's topic in Critical Care

    First of all, I'm sorry that you experienced this. It's really frustrating and hurtful. You are competent. Your rationale outlines that very clearly. Secondly, the situation outlines the "ethics...

14. Troponin leak and pressor of choice.

    RNerd81 replied to MLB55's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    Also, this is more like a troponin "flood" than "leak". No matter what your renal function, a trop of 6.4 isn't good. Even if it's "I" vs. "T", 6.4 is substantial. Especially given the patient's...

15. Troponin leak and pressor of choice.

    RNerd81 replied to MLB55's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    Full reference for norepinephrine vs. dopamine: NEJM 362(9): 779-89, 2010 MAR 4. DeBacker, D., et