Andrea2107

Hi everyone I am a nurse in pacu at a large hospital I have 7 yrs ICU experience had a patient post femoral endarectomy with history of 3 mi's and 8 stents. Also history of vtach and bradycardia post surgery he became hypotensive so I started neo gave albumin and hespan with improvement in bp. Ebl was 550 so we drew hgb and it had dropped 4 grams. So of course we would transfuse when blood ready. Anesthesia md wanted a gram of calcium chloride iv and since I had only given in code situations I wanted to make sure it was safe..called pharmacy. Verified with me 3 times (he was not happy I questioned his order) i asked him to explain the reason and mechanism behind this met in this specific situation. I do not give anything without knowing why. He said to increase bp and contractility. Everything I looked up points to it causing hypotension when giving I've and helps contractility only in code situations non responsive to epi. Calcium level was 9.7 already and if I understand right it causes k to lower when given increasing arrhythmia risks. The explanation didn't make me happy or help me understand so just wondering if anyone else has ever given for the reasons stated by md? I just want to understand!!!

So thanks everyone for your input...ive been picking up shifts in surgical trauma icu and love it....some people just arent meant for pacu and i am one of the few.....so i will be transferring soon....wish me luck i dont wanna blind side my present manger so I'm gonna tell her my plan.....thats the professional thing to Do right?

Christmas was rough I'm just sleeping in the new year, friend! No need to defibrillate

Recently left ccu after 7 years for a change. What a mistake. U can't take a critical thinking PCs nurse and expect her to rush pts out the door without addressing all the issues...I get told all the time..just send then to the floor...you don't need to worry about that......I ask about details of a surgery I'm not familiar with and get told if I knew everything about every procedure I world be a Dr.....I just don't fit in..I'm a fixer......I never get my patients out in time because of my attention to detail.....any thoughts......very serious about going back to icu.....I fell like I chart and transport more than I an a nurse!!!!!