elizabells BSN, RN

NICU

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All Content by elizabells

  1. elizabells

    Ethical or legal?

    elizabells replied to chevyv's topic in General Nursing

    That's right. I don't have the SKILLS or the TRAINING to take care of 4 ICU patients (or 15 med/surg, or whatever). So there you
  2. elizabells

    I want your favorite

    elizabells replied to UTVOL3's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Hey Aja I asked my friend today, and she said it's the Boon Spoon. The baby has to be old enough to handle thickened liquid, though, as you have to mix the milk with rice cereal or something for it to...
  3. elizabells

    Methadone withdrawal

    elizabells posted a topic in NICU, Neonatal

    So I've got this kid. Mom's been in a methadone program for two years now. He's ten days old, had been weaning with phenobarb, but yesterday they started 0.5mg/kg of morphine because his Finnegans...
  4. elizabells

    PICC line cap change question!

    elizabells replied to sweetieann's topic in General Nursing

    We use umbilical lines without clamps, which look a little like a PICC. What we do when changing the hubs is wrap a 2x2 gauze around the catheter itself and use a (non-toothed!) hemostat to clamp the...
  5. elizabells

    Tote bag?

    elizabells replied to Sue Damones's topic in Scrubs, Uniforms, Gear

    Manhattan Portage has a million awesome bags, though they are a touch on the expensive side. Very durable, though. They have messenger bags with a zillion pockets (that's what I use) as well as
  6. elizabells

    Strange things found on (or in) a pt.

    elizabells replied to squeakykitty's topic in Emergency

    AAAAHHHHHHHH!!!! Way to combine my two squickiest issues: eyeballs and
  7. elizabells

    Methadone withdrawal

    elizabells replied to elizabells's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I assume because it's still better than
  8. elizabells

    Why are ampules stil used?

    elizabells replied to Sarah Bellum's topic in General Nursing

    We use ampules of a few things, Fentanyl and Lidocaine, mostly. Also for inhaled Prostacyclin. The ONLY time we use filter needles is for the Prostacyclin, and we practically have to beat pharmacy...
  9. elizabells

    will it matter what RN school I go to for NICU?

    elizabells replied to picurn10's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I think it depends on where you are and what schools are in the area. If it's a choice between, like, a community college and an Ivy, then yeah, it might matter. (Disclaimer: I have no idea how LPN-RN...
  10. elizabells

    Anyone willing to answer a PM?

    elizabells replied to RNin2007's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Me too. I'm all opinionated and love giving
  11. elizabells

    What kind of feeding system do you use?

    elizabells replied to BittyBabyGrower's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    It happened on my unit and, seriously, nothing happened. The baby was fine. The nurse involved had to I think write a paper on the topic, but I don't think she was suspended or anything. We did just...
  12. elizabells

    What kind of feeding system do you use?

    elizabells replied to BittyBabyGrower's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We just started using the purple set last week. It's already a problem because the purple adapters on the ends of the syringes (which can't be removed) make it really hard to draw up formula/EBM/meds....
  13. elizabells

    Kitty litter as an order

    elizabells replied to ShayRN's topic in General Nursing

    j, you just KNOW that mgmt would try to make someone order kitty litter for that patient if they thought it would improve Press Ganey
  14. elizabells

    I want your favorite

    elizabells replied to UTVOL3's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    A coworker of mine is having the same problem right now. I believe she found some kind of squeezy contraption with a spoon or something on the end. It sounds almost like syringe feeding, but less...
  15. elizabells

    male entering the NICU ward... sigh

    elizabells replied to madmaxls6's topic in General Students

    Our best charge nurse is male. He's the kindest, most compassionate person I know, and families LOVE
  16. elizabells

    An ethical quandary... no, a different one

    elizabells posted a topic in NICU, Neonatal

    So here's what happened to me today: I have a kid on head-cooling for HIE. Mom had a complete abruption at birth and is in the ICU at a different hospital. She's been unconscious for two days, dad's...
  17. elizabells

    What do level III RNs think of level II?

    elizabells replied to Peanut_RN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    There are rotten people in Level III NICUs, ORs, ERs, Med-Surg, Well Baby Nurseries... and lovely people in all of those places too. I'm very sorry for the bad experiences that people have had, but I...
  18. elizabells

    NICU Sibling Activity Packs

    elizabells replied to NICURN29's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I realize this is awful and non-FCC of me, but that sounds delightful. No more yanking on IV tubing, temper tantrums in the middle of the floor, and my favorite, the time the toddler somehow managed...
  19. elizabells

    Columbia University-ETP

    elizabells replied to jcarranz5's topic in Post Graduate Students

    From an ETP grad: be prepared for the fact that the administration of CUSON is very, very disorganized. You have to get kind of Zen about it. It will continue all through your time there. I graduated...
  20. elizabells

    Question about your unit

    elizabells replied to EarlyAdditionRN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Well, yeah, obvy, but I thought the OP could use some actual information beyond my
  21. elizabells

    Methadone withdrawal

    elizabells replied to elizabells's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Siiiiiiiiiigh. So the fellow went to the night nurse last night and tried to get her to contradict my Finnegan. And she told the night charge nurse she had "issues" with how I was assessing my...
  22. elizabells

    Question about your unit

    elizabells replied to EarlyAdditionRN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    The NANN recommendations for staffing are posted in our break room, and I looked at them today. AAP/NANN says that intermediate babies should have a ratio of no more than 1:3, and critical 1:2. It's a...
  23. elizabells

    Question about your unit

    elizabells replied to EarlyAdditionRN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I'm sorry, I don't mean to be obtuse, but I want to make sure I'm understanding you properly. You have a 16 bed unit with vents/HFOV/Nitric, down to 26wkrs, and AT BEST four RNs and one NNP? And...
  24. elizabells

    Rounds

    elizabells replied to NICU_babyRN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Our unit is a level 4 (or whatever) 58 (but usually more like 70) bed teaching unit. Babies are divided into teams, one of residents and one of NNPs. The fellow leads rounds and the resident or NP...
  25. elizabells

    Problem sheets?

    elizabells replied to NICU_babyRN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We have what we call SBAR sheets. It's basically a systems review with areas for meds, lines, and fluids. The back has a grid for our vitals and care rounds. Most people hate them because there's...