sunny17

You have a postive outlook, which is great! Good luck:)

CCNURSE, Hi:) I start orientation August 4th, and then have about a month-month 1/2 of orientation to the unit. I'm excited:) Did you decide to stay?

Top 10 medical diagnosis - Prematurity - Respiratory Distress - Hypoglycemia - Jaundice - Pulmonary Hypertension Top 5 nursing diagnosis - Thermoregulation inffective - Altered Family Roles/Status - Risk for Infection - Ineffective Gas Exchange - Risk for Disorganized state Top 5 diagnostic tests CBC with diff Electrolytes Flat plate Chest/Abdomen Heelstick Eval Blood Culture Top 10 routine medications TPN Lipids Gentamicin Ampicillin D10 boluses Caffeine Dopamine Albuterol Vanco Dilation Drops ( for eye checks) Top 5 PRN meds Glycerin suppository Nystatin Powder Aquaphor Albuterol Morphine/Fentanyl Top 10 clinical skills used in the unit - Starting IV's - Labwork - Assessing breath sounds - Assesing heart sounds and murmurs - Suctioning ( ventilated and non-ventilated) - Feeding Infants! - Dressing Changes ( wounds and Broviac) - Resusitation "aka" saving babies! - Turning/Repositioning Infants - Psychology....your not only taking care of the baby but their parents!

I'm sorry but really, How stupid can people be!! I think people forget that it is an INTENSIVE care nursery...if you even have a doubt about something like that, don't come in!

Just an update..... This little peanut has turned the corner! We had the mother's milk analyzed and it was only 17 calories!! That explains the weight gain issue. Over the past week her intake has really gone up, taking 80 + cc at each feeding, and she is gaining good weight! Our docs feel that she is making up for the low calories in the milk, but taking such large amounts. We never had to use the other products and she is going home sometime this week!:loveya: It amazes me how kids make a complete turn-around like this. Thank you all for your help and suggestions and I still would love a copy of that Prolacta study if you have it!

Hello, Just wondering how your units handle these difficult situations, where a parent ( for whatever reason) tells the manager they do not want this nurse taking care of their baby anymore AKA firing a nurse!:argue: Does your unit follow through and not allow the nurse to care for the child or do they use another strategy.

CCNurse, Sounds very similar to where I work now...what would you say your daily census is? When I interviewed the director said that the core numbers for nurses was 11 per shift, so I was guessing your census was anywhere from 20-30?

Thanks, That would be great!

BabyNurseLynn, Thanks for your response, is there anyway you could get me that study? I would greatly appreciate it:)

The baby will be getting 48 cc every 3 hours when she gets back to full feeds.She's been gaining tremendous weight on TPN/lipids since this last trial of formula, so we know she can gain weight when given the right nutrition. She does not tolerate fortifier or regular preemie formulas at all. Her belly blows up, she ends up back on cannula, she has tons of air and loops in her belly, and she stools extremely heme postive stools with mucous/tissue. Her H/H drops, and her color turns form pink to gray. Overall, she becomes sick quickly and her whole body responds. It really has nothing to do with how she is feed, ie how often or the amount, but more what she is eating. She loves to nipple, which is what is so sad because due to the trial and error of all of this, she has been on stop and go feeds a million times. We will be trialing the prolacta with her and I guess if that doesn't work they may consider trialing Aliementum or Neocate.

wow, what a small world:) So how has your experience been at LVH? It seems like a great place to work! What are your typical patients you admit?

The prolacta product is donor milk which is calculate for caloric content and added to the mother's milk, 80cc-mother's milk and 20 cc of prolacta, so we will see how this goes! We also reviewed the mother's diet and found that she has been eating very little fat, she is currently trying to eat a more protein-good fat diet in hope's of bumping up the caloric content. I really wish we had a cream-a-crit, then we could test her milk on a daily basis. We have not used MCT oil...but I would be afraid she would not tolerate that as well. Cross our fingers this works!! Thanks!

Hey Everyone, Just wanted some insight on an issue with a preemie I care for. Ex 23 weeker now almost 40 weeks whom does not tolerate any fortifer or formula. Only tolerates breast milk and is not gaining weight. We have tried hindmilk for 3 weeks with no success. No acidiosis either. Has anyone used any Prolacta products? Any other suggestions? Thanks:nurse:

Question #1: Are grandparents and/or siblings limited to certain hours for visitation? (i.e. 0900-2100). Granparents can come in anytime except shift changes as long as they are idnetified as a vistor by the parents of the baby Question #2: Do you limit the amount of time of these visits? No, parents or grandparents can stay by the bedside as long as they want, except for change of shift Question #3: Do you allow grandparents to remain at the bedside during physician rounds? No, parents nor visitors are allowed in the NICU during rounds. Question #4: Does your unit have individual rooms or an open concept (multiple bed spaces within an area)? We have an open concept, two Zones, that hold about 8-10 pts. each, with four computer stations on each side.

Anyone currently working at LVH?