IPMC15

Huh.? What exactly did I "open"? Also I'm a guy not a lady...

These are all great responses. Any tips on codes? I've noticed that it is TREMENDOUSLY helpful for your own sake to glance at that clock and note the time for charting purposes later (obv you won't be charting right away). I've also been studying a lot on my ACLS and the one medication that just keeps stumping me for some reason is the amiodarone. Any little tricks for remembering pharmacokinetics for amio or little things to remember about it?

Love this! Thank you! There is great teamwork in our ICU. So excited.

Love this reply Julius Seizure! And that's what I do with the rates if I am short on pumps and have to run it as a secondary. I like that it flushes the rest in there. I just personally do it as a "second primary". It's fine either way I guess that was a bad example on my part. I am very good about asking questions, so I'm sure I'll do good there! Thank you guys so much for these replies !

Emtb2rn I'm not saying a turned off pump will simply free flow fluid. That's what I was trying to tell the other guy. I'm speaking about if your normal saline primary bag was set to infuse at 250 and you have potassium in to infuse at 100 and your pump begins the primary infusion before the potassium was finished . Thats all folks. Please stop acting like it's an idiotic thing to think because it could happen.

Awesome reply! Thank you calivianya!

I'm not saying they "fail" like completely don't work. Just if they were to begin the primary infusion too quickly. Not all of our patients DO have central lines especially where I have been working on medsurg and pcu and it does burn them. I was giving an example of what kind of tips I wanted, not giving you advice. Please don't take thus any further. I'm not trying to start a debate.

I've just always been told to not do it in case your pump were to fail and begin the primary infusion too soon and infuse your potassium too fast. Also if you are piggybacking it, you are at some point running straight potassium through which can make the "burning" sensation for the patient. I have piggybacked potassium before, but when someone told me that I always run it through another primary tubing and "Y" it in to a more distal port. This way, the pump cannot begin another rate too soon and you have saline infusing with the potassium which is not as hard on the veins. Just a little tip that made me think! Don't think its bad nursing practice, I just feel safer this way.

Little over a year experience floating between PCU, med-surg, joint/spine/general surgery post op floors and ICU. I am transferring to full time ICU soon and am wanting tips! I would like to hear from you what the things you absolutely HAAAATE to see a new ICU nurse do because of lack of experience. Clinical tips only please. Things such as "never piggyback potassium riders, or always make sure to hang around for first 15 of new blood transfusion if possible, etc." Would love to hear from my RRTs as well!