prmenrs RN

NICU, Infection Control

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All Content by prmenrs

  1. prmenrs

    Ever forgotten to feed a baby?

    prmenrs replied to jennylee321's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Most of my nightmares involve blank charts 1/2 hour before change of shift. I retired 16 years ago, and I'm still having
  2. prmenrs

    Really Hating the Words...

    prmenrs replied to cooties_are_real's topic in School

    When my mother was declining, the hospital wouldn't let us take her home w/o hospice. Otherwise, she would have to go to an extended care facility. She asked us if we wanted her to die. I told her...
  3. prmenrs

    Did you contract anything from a patient?

    prmenrs replied to RNrhythm's topic in General Nursing

    Does a really bad attitude and a sarcastic sense of humor
  4. prmenrs

    Neonatal Nursing career

    prmenrs replied to Kimbern's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I think you should take one step @ a time. Focus on your science classes in HS--you should @ least take chemistry and biology. If you have access to a community college, take medical terminology...
  5. prmenrs

    I feel so stupid in the NICU, will I ever be good enough?

    prmenrs replied to tmjwe3's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    ps--you are NOT stupid and yes, you will
  6. prmenrs

    I feel so stupid in the NICU, will I ever be good enough?

    prmenrs replied to tmjwe3's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    It bugs me when nurses come to the NICU from other areas of the hospital, have had some experience, and get tossed into the unit w/o a clue. That is NOT your fault!! You should spend some classroom...
  7. prmenrs

    Volunteers in the NICU

    prmenrs replied to nerdynurse08's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We had @least one volunteer who hated to sit still; she helped the unit assitants and ward clerks--ran labs, went to Central for equipment, sometimes cleaned equipment, restocked linen and supply...
  8. prmenrs

    Turning babies Every 2 hours?

    prmenrs replied to TeenyTinyBabyRN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    How to make an unstable baby crump: change their position. The best you can do is a "tilt" w/a rolled blanket, keeping the ET tube in line w/the head. This policy is not compatible w/neonatal nursing...
  9. prmenrs

    Bizarre Co-Worker Rant!

    prmenrs replied to All4NursingRN's topic in General Nursing

    imo--this is a "cover issue". Some thing else is bothering her, and this is what she is focusing on, @ least most of the time. She's also very angry, using a lot of energy keeping it in check--until...
  10. prmenrs

    How does your unit incentivize obtaining your NICU certification (RNC-NIC)?

    prmenrs replied to jdubs99's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I think we got it on the 1st pay check of the month--they paid us
  11. prmenrs

    Starting NICU, stay ICU PRN?

    prmenrs replied to OnTheSearch's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    The thing about NICU vs adult units is that neonates are like a whole 'nother species. Different norms, different clues (more subtle) for those changes that mean life or death, that you've got to...
  12. prmenrs

    How does your unit incentivize obtaining your NICU certification (RNC-NIC)?

    prmenrs replied to jdubs99's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We got reimbursed for the fee if we applied, but then we got a differential for certification. Don't know what it is now, but a few years ago, it was $100. Probably more now. Union negotiated
  13. prmenrs

    What is the common practice for oxygen use for diaper rash?

    prmenrs replied to Laurakfels's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I think this came about b/c nurses just grabbed the bag and mask that's @ every bedside and used it to dry the baby's butt. That bag and mask is hooked to an O2 flow meter. I don't think it matters...
  14. prmenrs

    Nursery/NICU linen changes

    prmenrs replied to first123's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I always changed my babies linens sometime on the shift. And more often, as necessary. You know, blow-outs and power pukes. We used baby blankets, not
  15. prmenrs

    Help with baby spitting up medicine

    prmenrs replied to Birdy2's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Phenobarb elixir is famous for vomiting issues. Talk to your pharmacist--s/he may be able to make it up by crushing the tablet in something, and labeling it to tell you how much to give. My son was...
  16. prmenrs

    How full do you fill your lab vials?

    prmenrs replied to Exhuasted's topic in General Nursing

    The lab told me to let the vacuum fill the tube--or just to the line for a microtainer. If you fill it too full, like forcing more blood than the vacuum wants, when they spin the tube, the top comes...
  17. prmenrs

    Adult to NICU

    prmenrs replied to kmn0601's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Don't forget that the dose of radiation to take a "baby" X-Ray is significantly less than an adult X-Ray, so the nurse's exposure is much, much less. A few years ago, some of our nurses wore those...
  18. prmenrs

    NICU Cribs/Beds

    prmenrs replied to nickirnak's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I looked @ the Hard site for neonatal cribs, which they did have: Hard Manufacturing ::
  19. prmenrs

    Why do we do codes?

    prmenrs replied to scrubs0204's topic in General Nursing

    I was present @ many codes, both adult and neonates. The babies always do better (virginal coronaries, non smokers/drinkers, cuter). The adult ones I went to fell into 2 categories: nothing went right...
  20. prmenrs

    Fountain Pens for Charting

    prmenrs replied to wernicke's topic in General Nursing

    I have had fountain pens that leaked all over everything. Try some different ballpoints: barrel width, speed of ink flow--I hate it when I'm writing, and the pen is 3 words behind me. Find one that...
  21. prmenrs

    Raising them right.

    prmenrs replied to notanumber's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    Document! Specific dates, times, incidents. More than just one person should do this. When you have 5-10 incidents, take that to management. If it's not written down, it didn't happen. Don't be vague....
  22. prmenrs

    NICU crafts/scrapbooking

    prmenrs replied to OnTheSearch's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Make turkeys out of baby's handprint. Butterflies: Right and Left footprints, outsides of feet together. Be sure the ink pad has washable ink. One Christmas, I made sundresses and playsuits...
  23. prmenrs

    Graceful way to NOT answer all the personal questions my patients ask me.

    prmenrs replied to CoffeeYogaNurse's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    When I was a student (before they invented the wheel), we were instructed to use this line: "For what reason do you wish this information?". We had the most trouble w/the grandmothers who had...
  24. prmenrs

    Being Deposed - Help!

    prmenrs replied to Nurse Beth's topic in Career Advice Column

    Count to 5 before you open your mouth. This will give your lawyer time to object. (And, yes, you do need a lawyer. Contact the facility risk management for help) You can also respond, "conference" @...
  25. prmenrs

    Scrubs or Clothes?

    prmenrs replied to smudges.blips's topic in School

    I would wear "fun" scrubs like dakotadenise said. Superheros, anyone?? If you have to go to a meeting where you feel like you need to be dressier, put a [clean] lab coat on. You'll feel uber...