milkglass

milkglass has 5 years experience.

Latest Activity

1. Patient age limit?

   milkglass replied to VintageSwagger's topic in NICU

   This right here! I don't agree with it. For one, since we're saving babies at earlier gestational ages, we're growing "chronic" babies with BPD that stay for usually their first birthday or more. As an example of why I feel NICUs aren't made for thi...

2. Has anyone ever 'taped' a gravity feed?

   milkglass replied to tinkerbell419's topic in NICU

   We use gravity feeds all the time, for all sizes of feeds. In fact, we just had a gestational diabetic 14 lb'er who was getting 100mL by gravity. Of course, the nurses were being lazy/not thinking and should have just ordered a kangaroo pump to run i...

3. Use of blankets from home in the NICU

   milkglass replied to lmasta03's topic in NICU

   We allow blankets, clothing, mitts, socks, hats, and pacifiers from home. We warn that if the pacifier gets dropped on the floor it may get thrown away or given to them to boil/sterilize. As the others said, the clothes are suppose to be washed first...

4. Crying babies

   milkglass replied to HyperSaurus, RN's topic in NICU

   I'm telling you guys, the Mamaroo brand chair has SAVED our sanity many times! That and Toots Sweet.. I've never seen anyone try iphone music, but now we can't since we just got all our electronic devices taken away and night shift managers to enfor...

5. Nursery Level 2 - New Grad - Things I should know

   milkglass replied to CareMare's topic in NICU

   So, have you gotten an answer back on your job? I would recomment still getting a critical care NICU book to read over. You can find them at Barnes and Noble or Amazon. Even though you'll probably be dealing with a lot of "feeder/growers" (aka babies...

6. Nesting Micros who are on Phototherapy Blankets

   milkglass replied to jpeters84's topic in NICU

   We don't use phototherapy blankets on micros, either. We use banks of overhead phototherapy lights that hang over the top or sides of the isolette, so they can be nested as usual in blanket rolls or snugglie products.

7. "Down time" on your shift?

   milkglass replied to milkglass's topic in NICU

   I completely agree that you shouldn't be on your phone or reading a book if parents are present. That isn't "down time" to me, because you should be there for their questions and needs. But, I do disagree with taking it away when it's 3AM, you're si...

8. "Down time" on your shift?

   milkglass replied to milkglass's topic in NICU

   Thank you! This policy change has erk'd a lot of nurses of course. I guess you always get that when you take away a "freedom". But I agree, the parents spend SO much time texting or surfing on their phone. Many of my coworkers have pointed that out...

9. MRSA Best Practices?

   milkglass replied to Mags4711's topic in NICU

   Oh I forgot to add that we very rarely do chlorohexadine baths, I've seen it maybe 3 times in my 5 years, and it was usually a circumstance of some other contaminate happening. We've never used Bactroban Nasal Ointment 2%. And sorry, I can't answer...

10. What nipple do you use for thickened formula

    milkglass replied to Ethanavery's topic in NICU

    NicuGal, what brand is your cross-cut? Your thickened formula actually passes through it fine without altering? Our brand is Enfamil. I've tried even a 1/2 tsp per ounce of oatmeal or rice and it still gets clogged. We usually give babies 1-2 tsp pe...

11. "Down time" on your shift?

    milkglass posted a topic in NICU

    Hello all, I was just wondering how you all are allowed to spend your "down time" on your shift? Our unit practices "clustered care" so if your shift/assignment is going well you may not touch an infant for 3-5 hours or more depending on their needs...

12. What nipple do you use for thickened formula

    milkglass replied to Ethanavery's topic in NICU

    Our unit also uses a cross-cut (can't think of the brand except it's not Similac like our other nipples). We also use a scalpel or scissors to cut the cross cut or regular nipple open wider. We taught this all the time and naturally someone pointed o...

13. Visitation during handoff

    milkglass replied to maxx12's topic in NICU

    We have two open step-down areas with 8 and 13 beds and 6 pods with 3-4 beds each. We are closed 7a-8a, 3p-4p, and 7p-8:30p (sterile line changes). Sometimes we are lenient and let families stay over a bit or through it if there's no staff changing i...

14. MRSA Best Practices?

    milkglass replied to Mags4711's topic in NICU

    Every baby (transport or in-born) gets tested on admission, and every Monday. Nare swab only. We use to do umbilicus as well. If they test positive, we stop the continual screening, and they are put in contact isolation until discharge. They are not ...

15. When is the busiest time in NICU?

    milkglass replied to choco_noire07's topic in NICU

    I agree with the previous posts overall about a nicu unit, it's very much an ebb and flow like the ocean. You can have nights of low census and then get 7 admissions in one shift. You can have a baby that's fine on NCPAP and turns deathly sick by the...