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?

I'll be starting in August in NICU

Thanks for the response. I'll be starting there in August and it seems like a really wonderful place. What counties or areas does it primarly get patients from?

Anyone working/worked there? What are your opinions of the hospital and how has your experience been? Thanks

[color=cyan]any suggestions in what to put in the letter or what to say to the nurse manager. how honest should you be in the exit interview? tia

The Wee Sights are good, especially for transports

Hey, Im a lurker and have not posted in some time, but I could really use some insight on my career.... I have been a NICU nurse for 3 years, started right out of school, and love my job. But latley I feel like I need a change of pace, my unit tends to be slower and I am still working FT evenings! There seems to be no growth or change of shift for me anytime soon...So I considered another hospital, which I interviewed at. Much bigger unit, part time day shift position , and lots of transports which I love. The pay is slighty lower, but they have merit acheivement raises, many of which I will qualify for. Im still waiting to hear back from them, but my plan would be to accept the position and stay per diem at my current job until the new job turns full time. Anyone in a similar situation? How was your transition? Do you have any regrets? I just needed some insight on this... Thanks in Advance :)

hi! Quick questions, thought someone might know. In your nicu follow up programs are they staffed by NNP or pediatric NP's? Looking to go for masters and would love to work in a follow-up program setting. Thanks!!!

Thank you! I really needed some encourgament! I am working on being more assertive and sticking up for myself...but it's hard! The first year of nursing I heard is very rough, but I guess you just have to stick it through!! Thanks again!

Hello, I'm a recently graduated RN from May and have been working at a level 3 NICU since July. Recently, I have been feeling very overwhelmed and frustrated. I love my job and my patients, but sometimes it truly gets to feel "out of control". I also am having a hard time deciphering when to call the md or NNP and when not too. I feel like when I do call about something, Im bothering them and when I don't call about something Im getting yelled at the next day. Also, it's really hard being the new kid in the unit and not to mention Im the youngest RN on the unit. I feel like Im not getting the same respect Im giving others and thats also frustrating. I know Im still new and do not have the level of experince as all of the others, but making me feel like Im less then everyone else really doesn't help. Any stories or suggestions?

Just wondering if anyone else scored within the 200's and passed? I just feel like 208 is such an odd number! Im really scared, any encouragment would be great..lol.. Thanks