GrannyRRT

I have taken ACLS classes for over 30 years which includes back when the certification actually meant something. On page 70 in the text there is a paragraph about IO. On the website there is a short video. In PALS you might play around with a chicke...

I do not agree that none of them require knowing the diagnosis. Many of the alarm parameters are diagnosis based. If you have a fixed rate pacemaker your alarm settings might be different than a variable rate or regular patient. If the patient is pa...

It sounds like you did not realize you were getting hired to be part of a PATIENT CARE TEAM. You don't need a college degree to understand a few things beyond the squiggly lines on the monitor and how they pertain to the total care of the patient. ...

It used to bother me but now, if the patients are on RT service, I just protocol them to an MDI and wish them well. This was after several times of being paged by RNs who didn't want these patients to miss their RT treatments and would call us to giv...

Since you mentioned Echo, is your floor utilizing or attempting to establish order sets for core measures based off the physician diagnosis such as for heart failure? There are also pre and post procedure order sets. Ideally the computer system sh...

Field provider? Okay, I didn't go into all of the many different specialty devices we use in the ORs, bronch suites and ICUs because they usually have an RT, CRNA or anesthesiologist at the bedside. We have devices to do bronchs on BIPAP and ventil...

Not necessarily. That would depend upon the situation and why the patient is requiring supplemental oxygen. Drug OD and neuro patients do not always respond as others with a normal unimpaired drive would. DKA would also give an increased rate and d...

It is an open light weight mask with a shallow cup like piece in the center directing oxygen at the patient. OxyMaskâ„¢ Adult | Medical Supplies | Southmedic This site provides great info. Read the FAQs section and use it as a reference if your facil...

It is not so much the FiO2 which can cause the harm but the rebreathing of CO2. This will not be noticed by the SpO2 value until it is too late. I am going to be the "2 L" thing has to do with the old training of no more than 2L for COPD patients re...

I am more concerned about someone putting anyone on a NRM at 2 LPM. Even 97% SpO2 on a nonrebreather does not give a clear picture especially if the A-a gradient could be >300 mmHg.

Some home care and LTC trachs are changed q 30 days, q 60 days, q 90 days or q 6 months depending on insurance and protocol. Some LTC facilities stretch out changing special order expensive trachs as long as possible. I prefer to change cuffed trach ...

If your hospital is as big as you say it is, I would really like to see that hierarchy line. That's good. But, it does not mean the RNs in your state are restricted from touching ventilators. They do in home care, PACU, transport, LTC and a variet...

Who does he report to? What is the hierarchy of management in your facility? What type of hospital? Be specific. There are exceptions but I am looking at the experiences of many managers in many states including Florida. I am an RRT with degr...

For the past 20+ years we have allowed parents to be present when their child codes. But, we will have at least one professional with them to explain everything and remove them if necessary.

I am just saying it is time to put the correct reasoning behind statements like "if you give that old bird 4 L she will stop breathing" and understand not all COPD patients are retainers. The longer you leave a patient in a hypoxic state the more ch...

If you want job security and flexibility, be an RN. Michigan has had a rough time with their state legislators and the threat of delicensing Respiratory Therapists. They managed to win one attempt two years ago but it has been a sttuggle. The same ...

Please do not wait for an ABG to be done and the results to return before intervening. I would not want to be the one to do an arterial stick on someone with an SpO2 of 68% without intervention nor try to explain this to my licensing board. You shoul...

This website will give you a synopsis of Acid Base and ABGs. http://acidbase.homestead.com/abg_analysis_rev_2.0.pdf Now for that "hypoxic drive" stuff. This generation should not be taught old nursing tales from the 1950s. More than a half of centur...

CO2 from a metabolic panel lab work is more indicative of HCO3. If you did an ABG, the HCO3 will be close to the CO2 on the metabolic panel. This is the acid base part. I rarely need an ABG to know a patient's chronic respiratory status if I have a...

During my almost 4 decades as a pedi/neo RRT, I have heard and seen a lot. Participating in the campaign to get legislature passed for inhalers in the hands of kids at school was a biggie. It also showed me what opposition the pro side was up against...

Old Dude, your attitude is scary. You sound like you have already given up on these kids and there is a high probability your attitude shows to the kids. You are like the old meanie school nurse the kids tell me about on their follow up visits. Ther...

yWhat are the inhalers? Nasal or oral? Does the child with a cough have RAD? What level is their asthma classified at? Some require a scheduled SABA as well as inbetween. Do they also have CLD from NICU days? Are the kids active? Inhalers are not jus...

Ancillary staff? Radiology Technologists are degreed and licensed professionals. Many of those in IR- have at least a Bachelors degree. There has to be some incentive for these Technologists to stick around if they are disrespected and have to list...

If your hourly rate is in that range, their wage might be more like $16 - 25. Our Radiology Technologists are considered very well paid with the wages I quoted earlier and our nurses start around 33 - $35/hr entry grad according to their last union ...

Are these Rad Technologists also certified to do other procedures which they can be called in for? US, MRI or cath lab fill in? At one hospital the on call Rad Technologists never slept and were still expected to work the shift prior and after call w...