elizabells BSN, RN

NICU

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All Content by elizabells

  1. elizabells

    Developmental Positioning, Aids, and stuff like that...

    elizabells replied to NICU_Nurse's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    The ones I love/hate to have on ZFlo are the sick big PPHN kids. It's so comfy, especially if they're on the oscillator or something, but even with the cover on it they get so sweaty! I had one with a...
  2. elizabells

    Duoderm as adhesive tape?

    elizabells replied to baby21's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Very true, but when you have a micro who bleeds from underneath her EKG leads and pretty much anywhere else you touch her, you do what you gotta
  3. elizabells

    policy for flushing INT's

    elizabells replied to casper82's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I'm not familiar with the acronym INT... If we're talking about peripheral IVs that are not in continuous use, we flush at least qshift with straight saline. I flush at the beginning of my shift (to...
  4. elizabells

    PIV rotation for pedi pts?

    elizabells replied to gospursgo07's topic in General Nursing

    Yup. Leave 'em in, flush 'em qshift if they're not used, and thank the IV gods if you keep one going for more than 72
  5. elizabells

    Funny Names

    elizabells replied to nurserynurse55's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I heard about one named Cash Money today. How the hell is that kid ever going to get a job when he grows up, I ask
  6. elizabells

    Developmental Positioning, Aids, and stuff like that...

    elizabells replied to NICU_Nurse's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    The big ones are great for the really, really sick kids. Especially the ones with wandering atelectasis, who the MDs want you to turn a different side up after every CXR. Much easier just to squish...
  7. elizabells

    Funny Names

    elizabells replied to nurserynurse55's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Lol, so did I. So named because a) mom was an in-labor transport and b) she was a 24-weeker, so she had quite a journey ahead of her. Or something. We're seeing a lot of Celtic names lately. Finn,...
  8. elizabells

    How about your favorite Old Wives Tales related to health?

    elizabells replied to NurseyTonyaLPN's topic in Nursing Humor

    Oh, I am so screwed. I have to wear an apron when I'm washing dishes, or else do them
  9. elizabells

    Feeling inept :(

    elizabells replied to twizzlers67's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    This whole "you're too slow" thing makes me NUTS. Of COURSE you're slow! Do they want you to rush and screw up? If you were as fast as they were and still able to do stuff right, you wouldn't need to...
  10. elizabells

    Duoderm as adhesive tape?

    elizabells replied to baby21's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Huh. We use duoderm for everything. Under NG/OG tubes, under the velcro for CPAP, I've even used it as an ostomy disc on a really small baby when even the preemie size was too large and stiff. The...
  11. elizabells

    Things Patients Have Taught Me NOT To Do

    elizabells replied to Trixxy's topic in Nursing Humor

    Funny thing, you know that burping a baby looks just like a wide-complex Vtach on a 3-lead monitor? I've never seen a cardiologist run that fast or look so flabbergasted when he got to the room and...
  12. elizabells

    Feeling inept :(

    elizabells replied to twizzlers67's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    You'll get there, twizzler. I knew I was going to be okay when I had an attending standing over me, barking at me about getting various drips attached to various lines, which ended up being like one...
  13. elizabells

    Feeling inept :(

    elizabells replied to twizzlers67's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Sweetie, I just passed the 2 year mark and still feel like a blithering idiot at least once per shift. And I know I'm not - mgmt just asked me to be a buddy to new nurses, which is not like a...
  14. elizabells

    IV air bubbles

    elizabells replied to I'mANurse!'s topic in NICU, Neonatal

    The other problem with bubbles as they pertain to the NICU population is that many of the kids still have PFOs. Straight shot, basically, from the right atrium to the carotid and then the brain....
  15. elizabells

    IV air bubbles

    elizabells replied to I'mANurse!'s topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I would like to point out that lipids are not filtered, and I've come on to find, seriously, a good half inch of air in lipid tubing
  16. elizabells

    Accidental Extubation

    elizabells replied to twizzlers67's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I've seen our respiratory guru MD (who is the one you call when no one can intubate a kid, even ENT or anesthesia, and also invented our wacky taping method) accidentally extubate a 23-weeker. So yes,...
  17. elizabells

    IV air bubbles

    elizabells replied to I'mANurse!'s topic in NICU, Neonatal

    You know, I'm that way too. And I don't really care. You'll get faster at running your TPN even with being OCD about it. From case reports I've read, an air embolism is almost the only mistake you can...
  18. elizabells

    Gastroschisis

    elizabells replied to littlepeach's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    As far as I know, we still use sterile gauze soaked in warm sterile saline, then the whole shebang wrapped in Kerlix and suspended from the arm of the warmer until they get to the
  19. elizabells

    You Know You're a NICU Nurse When...

    elizabells replied to SteveNNP's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I once had a dad who felt bad that his baby had to drink Preg 24, so he took a sip in some sort of misguided attempt at sympathy. Then he turned around and puked in the trash
  20. elizabells

    Severe Respiratory Acidosis

    elizabells replied to NHSbaseball32's topic in General Nursing

    I have no answers but... holy crap! So glad he's on the upswing! That PO2 makes me curious. It seems out of place to me, with the pH and PCO2 being what they
  21. elizabells

    If I Murder A Co-worker, How To Hide The Body??

    elizabells replied to walk6miles's topic in General Nursing

    Oooh, but it CAN be detected in a wound track if it's given IM! I saw that on a crime show too. And I swear... I swear I remember something about it elevating either an enzyme or an electrolyte...
  22. elizabells

    Do you use music therapy?

    elizabells replied to BittyBabyGrower's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    DahdahdahDAAAAHH dahdahdadaDAAAAAHHHH... I hate you so much right
  23. elizabells

    men and neonatal

    elizabells replied to uscstu4lfe's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Babies feel awfully heavy when you're giving them their last bath. Please read the "Hardest things to deal with in NICU" thread before you make your decision. I'm not saying you shouldn't transfer,...
  24. elizabells

    Anyone use the Dream Mover?

    elizabells replied to danissa's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Never heard of it, but it sounds awesome. We have one swing seat and one vibrating seat that were donated to the unit by a couple of the nurses. I still say whatever nurse invents an automatic...
  25. elizabells

    Don't touch that!

    elizabells replied to nursecass's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    Our docs wouldn't know how to work an IV pump if you hit them in the head with it. They do monkey with the vents, though, which drives me up the WALL. Reporting off an incorrect vent setting or, most...