clarkheart

clarkheart

Cardiovascular

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All Content by clarkheart

  1. Are swans going "out of style?"

    clarkheart replied to TemperStripe's topic in MICU, SICU

    All of our open hearts come back with swans that we attach to a Vigilance monitor for continuous CI and we also have been using the Vigileo attached to the art line. The CI between the two can be...

  2. Need advice on new job in ICU, not going well

    clarkheart replied to Treefroggirl's topic in MICU, SICU

    As a charge nurse in a CVICU, I have seen these types of "preceptors" before. They are not interested in teaching and guiding new nurses to their unit. They volunteer to be preceptors because they...

  3. Short Staffed - Vent

    clarkheart replied to incublissRN's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    Sorry--been away for awhile--In California there is a state mandated ratio of no more than 2 patients/1 nurse. It's the law -hospitals have no choice but to follow the ratio. We have always had a...

  4. Short Staffed - Vent

    clarkheart replied to incublissRN's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    This is so unfortunate--the RT's I work with are invaluable to me in managing my patients. We work together on optimizing care. Come to California--we can always use good critical care nurses! You...

  5. iabp

    clarkheart replied to Feldner's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    I work in a CVICU and our IABP patients are always 1:1 with no exceptions. It is part of our hospital policy. Usually my balloon patients are either post op hearts or MI patients who are waiting for...

  6. post open heart care info

    clarkheart replied to whatnext's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    The book "Manual of Perioperative Care in Cardiac Surgery" by Robert Bojar is an excellent reference for taking care of open hearts. It covers just about everything you would run across. You can...

  7. afib/bundle branch block

    clarkheart replied to INnurse's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    Was the rhythm regular or irregular when it was above 120? Afib with BBB can show wider QRS complexes at higher rates but the rhythm should still be irregular. If so then the rhythm was probably...

  8. If your calling is CCU...

    clarkheart replied to NurseCherlove's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    NurseCherlove--good luck on your interview. I've worked in a CVICU for over 6 years now and wouldn't think of doing any other specialty. I realized back in nursing school that I wanted to work in...

  9. Would you take this assignment??

    clarkheart replied to SICU Queen's topic in MICU, SICU

    I've had cabg's 1:1 for 2-3 days postop because of their instability. We have a rating system that we strictly adhere to. I had a patient awhile back that was a CABG with an IABP, vent, multiple...

  10. Would you take this assignment??

    clarkheart replied to SICU Queen's topic in MICU, SICU

    I would have refused that assignment too. That CABG would have stayed a 1:1 in our CVICU until they were hemodynamically stable, which your patient was not. As a charge nurse I would never have...

  11. Changing from ER to CSICU

    clarkheart replied to Fiesta Red's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    I've worked in CVICU for 5 years now and I've learned that is there is no such thing as a "rountine" CABG--and that's what keep things interesting for me. Just when you think you've seen it all, new...

  12. Views on New Grads Entering Critical Care

    clarkheart replied to ICUNurse11's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    I worked my first two years in med/surg and for me it was the right move. I've worked in ICU or CVICU the rest of my nursing career. The basic nursing skills I honed while in med/surg can't be...

  13. Iabp...

    clarkheart replied to BSN_DEC_2006's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    Our IABP's come back with a distal and proximal arterial port. The distal is transduced to the balloon pump and used for timing and triggering purposes. The proximal port is always attached to a...

  14. Where can I purchase scrub pants with 2 side and 2 cargo pockets?

    clarkheart replied to PBAJS's topic in General Nursing

    try aviatorscrubs.com--they have alot of different colors and combinations when it comes to pockets and styles. they are well made, a little heavier and cost more but they last much longer. i've...

  15. Best Areas In CALIFORNIA to travel nurse & visit

    clarkheart replied to Nick&Leslie's topic in Travel

    I live 45 miles north of Sacramento (Marysville/Yuba City) all my life and you can't beat it. You can go 2 hours to the west and go to the coast or 2 hours to the east and go to the Sierra Nevada...

  16. 265 on 06/29!!!!

    clarkheart replied to BSE2000's topic in NCLEX Exam, Programs

    When I took the NCLEX 10 years ago I had to take all 265 also and passed. I remember saying to myself I thought I was doing alright on the test and why isn't it shutting off!? I learned later that...

  17. How many Pt do you take care of?

    clarkheart replied to Franlpntorn's topic in General Nursing

    I work in a CVICU in CA. State dictates that I can't have anymore than two patients at a time. Our fresh CABG's are 1:1 for at least the first 8

  18. what is your opinon on ADN degrees?

    clarkheart replied to GrnHonu99's topic in General Nursing

    Well said

  19. Ok guys, I'm taking the plunge!

    clarkheart replied to mummer43's topic in Men in Nursing

    Good luck Dude--I've been a RN for 10 years and I'm 46 years young. Never too late to try something new. I work in a CVICU taking care of open heart surgeries and don't regret a day of it! Work is...

  20. what is your opinon on ADN degrees?

    clarkheart replied to GrnHonu99's topic in General Nursing

    I have an ADN and it has served me quite well. I work in a CVICU and I have never once been asked for credentials by a cardiac surgeon while I was taking care of their open heart patient. In fact, I...

  21. Cardiac Critical Care or Neuro Critical Care?

    clarkheart replied to IndyGypsyNurse's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    I've worked in critical care for the last six years and exclusively in a CVICU for the last three. Open heart surgery patients can develop multisystem complaints quite quickly re: renal failure,...

  22. Comment about LPNs made by clinical instructor

    clarkheart replied to FutureIsBlue's topic in General Nursing

    My first job out of nursing school was on a 35 bed medsurg unit. I was raw and intimidated by having to take care of 8 patients right away when just 2 weeks before I was in my cozy sheltered role as...

  23. Swan questions

    clarkheart replied to kesmith2314's topic in MICU, SICU

    Our fresh hearts come back with Swans connected with heparinized pressure lines. I will wedge only after proper swan placement is confirmed with the postop cxr. I then may wedge only once a shift...

  24. Nursing School Bulge? Is it just me...........

    clarkheart replied to RavenAngel's topic in First Year After Licensure

    Had a good chuckle over this---when I was going to school I gained about 20 lbs. I lived with my folks at the time and mom always had a "care package" waiting for me in the fridge when I got home...

  25. Charge Nurses

    clarkheart replied to NeuroNP's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    I know exactly how you feel littlenurse03--I'm a charge nurse in a 12 bed CVICU and usually have to take patients as well as charge duties. In fact, sometimes I'm charge and also taking the emergency...