clarkheart

clarkheart

Cardiovascular

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All Content by clarkheart

  1. Should I try HD?

    clarkheart posted a topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    I have been looking at switching specialties from critical care to dialysis. What do you all find are the advantages/disadvantages? I am CRRT certified from critical care. I am interested in...

  2. Specialty Poll for male nurses

    clarkheart replied to DatMurse's topic in Men in Nursing

    I've done a little bit of everything: Med Surg, CVICU, CVOR, Cath Lab, and Quality and Risk Management. Currently a Clinical Coordinator on a Cardiac Telemetry

  3. Riddle me this Batman?

    clarkheart replied to hppygr8ful's topic in General Nursing

    Probably costs even less in Mexico. If they can charge it and you pay it then they will continue to gouge you. Not just drugs though..I still want to know why I have to pay $35.00 for ten disposable...

  4. Problems with nursing profession and why I want to quit

    clarkheart replied to bravewarrior1's topic in General Nursing

    The great thing about that nursing degree is it opens other opportunities if you want. If you are fed up with bedside care then use your clinical knowledge in other areas in healthcare such as...

  5. Hiring Mgr: We will let you know in 2 weeks

    clarkheart replied to chaki's topic in General Nursing

    I would continue to look for other positions if you want. Keep your options open. There is nothing wrong about continuing your search while they are continuing

  6. What is your opinion on calling in "sick"

    clarkheart replied to Goofaroo's topic in General Nursing

    You need to find a new job. Life is too short to put yourself through torture every day you work. I have been there myself and left positions that became too stressful. Nothing is worth...

  7. Cath Lab

    clarkheart replied to owen1234's topic in Nursing Career

    I was a circulating RN in a CVOR for over two years and pulling up to 25 days a month on call. Then I went to the Cath Lab and pulled about 12 days a month and I thought I was in heaven! I now work...

  8. Is anyone else's ICU more like LTAC?

    clarkheart replied to ICUchick's topic in Critical Care

    I think one of the issues that we need to discuss is how the physicians discuss the care of these patients with the families. There are times when the most dignified care these patients could receive...

  9. Emergency Titration Protocol ?

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

    Our hospital got called out by The Joint Commission before and accused us of "practicing medicine" (they like to use that term) when our electrolyte protocols weren't "tight" enough. They didn't like...

  10. Could anyone help me better understand this code ?

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

    First question I have is whether the patient is stable or not. Patients with wide complexes can be stable. If patient is unstable and complex wide then CPR then defib. The AICD may be set to...

  11. Quality Improvement Specialist (Nurse)

    clarkheart replied to madwife2002's topic in Quality Improvement

    Thank you for the information. I am looking into crossing over into Quality after being in patient care for 20 years. Any advice of making this a smooth transition would be greatly

  12. CVP & PEEP Relationship - help!

    clarkheart replied to Fluidified's topic in Critical Care

    I've been told by Intensivists that any PEEP over 5 will artificially give CVP readings on a one to one ratio. Example--PEEP of 8 will artificially raise the CVP 3 points. I've always been told to...

  13. New grad starting in CVICU soon! Any pointers?

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

    Always have a notebook or paper available to write down notes or thoughts when they come to you. Then review them later and expand on them if you can. I ended up creating my own notebook that I...

  14. EKG lead reversals?

    clarkheart replied to e71x's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    Never take the ECG machine interpretation as the final word. I have seen too many wrong explanations through the years from a machine. Trust the MD's interpretation

  15. Interview in 2 days! Need help please!

    clarkheart replied to jrsRN07's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    They may give you clinical scenarios that will require a knowledge of ECG interpretation or basic knowledge of pharmacology such as what drugs to use in what clinical situation or rhythm. Been a CVICU...

  16. CVICU for Nurses 59 years old and older

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

    I worked CVICU for over 12 years and found the best 12 hour shift schedule for me was every Tue and Thur and every other weekend. That way I had a day off after every shift except my biweekly weekend...

  17. What is going on in this OR?

    clarkheart replied to fracturenurse's topic in Operating Room

    I work in cardiac surgery and call report to CVICU recovery nurse 30 minutes before we go up. Anesthesia and myself transport patient to unit

  18. Would you become an RN again if you had the choice?

    clarkheart replied to eminthesr's topic in Diploma, ADN, BSN

    I've been a nurse for over 17 years now and I don't regret for a moment my choice to enter nursing. I understand and appreciate some of the comments regarding our profession such as the long hours,...

  19. ICU ratios

    clarkheart posted a topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    I work in a 12 bed CVICU in California. Our director has begun to talk about increasing our ratio to 3:1 in our unit if we have too many floor patients awaiting transfer out to med/surg. I thought...

  20. Open heart resources

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

    Bojar is an excellent stand alone reference. I allows remind myself what the best cardiac surgeon I have ever worked with told me once:"Never get complacent, there is no such thing as a routine open...

  21. Need some Precedex advise

    clarkheart replied to EyeSeeYouRnOhio's topic in MICU, SICU

    It's plain insane to use Precedex as an induction drug. Etomidate and versed/fentanyl usually work much better with another paralytic if needed. Precedex can be hit and miss but we use it...

  22. Top 10 CT-ICU drugs

    clarkheart replied to CABGx4's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    milrinone ntg nipride levophed dopamine dobutamine insulin albumin amiodarone lasix hard to keep it at just 10--off the top of my head these are the meds I use the

  23. Have you ever cheated?

    clarkheart replied to JustYouWait's topic in General Students

    Wouldn't cheat on tests for a number of reasons: The ethical side of me felt that if I wasn't prepared enough for a test and ended up getting substandard results then that was my fault and hopefully...

  24. Discontinued/held current medsor never started home meds

    clarkheart replied to nightshift82's topic in CCU, Coronary, Cardiac

    Our hospital has a policy that requires the admitting physician to acknowledge and actually sign off on a list of their home meds that was obtained at admission. The pharmacy follows up on this and...

  25. Who Draws blood from a-lines??

    clarkheart replied to bran1101's topic in MICU, SICU

    RN's only--I am ultimately responsible for that line-not a tech. Where I work only RN's can get blood samples from art and central lines. This makes sense to me--I have the experience to...