etymed

Just curious on peoples' views of this scenario: A charge nurse has a close family member admitted to their floor where they regularly function as charge. Should that charge nurse have his/her duty as charge suspended while their family member is a ...

Okay, thanks everyone for the great responses! :) I guess I should also specify that this scenario (in my mind) occurs in an ICU (since that's where I work). In our ICU, charge nurses always run the codes and closely monitor patient plan of care (ro...

Thanks, but that's not really the angle I'm trying to portray actually. The problem I see is that the charge needs to be objective on patient care. What if their family member codes? Are they going to be objective as the leader of that code (as well ...

Coreg is non-cardioselective, though. Metoprolol, Esmolol, and Atenolol are the main cardioselecive BBs.

Kudos, bro!! Keep it up. :)

When I'm running Levo and Neo, the goal is usually to titrate one of them off first (typically Levo).. so I'd be curious what your institution's PhD/MDs say on this too.

Hi, I've been in the ICU for almost a year now, and I recently came across a concept that I am not clear on. When a ventilated patient's oxygen saturation starts dropping, or if a patient is experiencing respiratory arrest, an important part of our i...

The three points gonzo mentioned above, are SPOT ON! It took me a while after becoming an RN to realize this, but that is really some true advice! Good luck on your decision.

In CV/CICU more so than any other unit, you will be watching a patient's hemodynamics like a hawk and titrating vasopressors to fix any issues during your shift. The other big hitter in my unit is knowing the various types of shock and how they influ...

Da_Milk is correct in saying that if you go Step-Down or Med-Surg first, you will have amazing time-management skills when you hit the ICU world. However, I will disagree that it is a make or break type of scenario. I think the most critical aspect ...

I wish I could recall where I found it, but it was an actual case. That's true about IO being painful and only short-term, though. Might as well just put in a central. That would fix everything hah

Same here in my CVCICU. We had 3 out of 25 beds occupied at one point last month. Now we're back up to 90% and higher census.

Wouldn't it be better practice to just drill an EZ-IO in the ankle rather than start an IV on a vein? I've heard of cases of patients having IVs started in their lower extremities and then keeling over in a few days from a DVT.

Full reimbursement if you pass, can use it for career ladder ($$ incentives), and increase of $0.50/hr.

Don't worry, I've been right there with ya. I was helping admit a friend's patient and the alarm kept going off saying it was V-Tach when it wasn't. So everyone kept asking me to silence it. Finally, I silence it for the 10th time, and it was true V...

Chicago, Monkey, Florence, where are y'all? How's life/job? :)

Hi BurgundySwanson, I bought scrubs from Aviator based in TX. http://aviators2.ipower.com/shop/2-stock-pants You may find those "scrub" pants to be more of what you're looking for. They're still "scrubs" in name and are easily washable, but they are ...

So... how is everyone's internship?? :) I'm really lovin the cardiac ICU! 1 more week of orientation and then I'll be let free!! (eek, ha)

luckylotus: Yep, that makes complete sense. I am in the same position as you right now. In that in-between stage of confident doing most of the normal routine stuff (as long as there's a preceptor to catch you when you fall or to fill in what you mi...

Maybe trying to find a hobby and exercising which gives you endorphins!

Welcome aboard the non-stop train of critical care!!! :) A wild ride.

Thanks! That will be helpful! :)

Good job, ktliz! :) I have about 4 more weeks until I am receiving my own two patients. Things I feel I need a lot more practice with: Giving report - this is hit or miss for me. I either do pretty well or am stumbling all the way thru, lol Updating ...

They said my compressions needed some work in the debriefing, which doesn't surprise me. lol That's awesome about the cake that patient sends :) and Florence, it was a pretty surreal experience (made more surreal by the fact that it was only like 074...

Yeah I am too... Mainly I'm just anxious about getting into the knack of falling asleep during when it's daytime and getting enough quality sleep to keep up with the demands of an ICU. on another note, I did CPR in the unit for the first time in my l...