NICUNurseEliz

NICUNurseEliz

Pediatrics, NICU

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All Content by NICUNurseEliz

  1. Why do YOU love being a NICU nurse and can new graduates apply?

    NICUNurseEliz replied to RachealAnne's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I started by working as a new grad in a pediatric/maternity hospital on the pediatric medsurg floor. Then after a year, I transferred to the NICU in the same hospital. My hospital does (reluctantly)...

  2. 1/9: What I learned this week - Worst. Vagina. EVER.

    NICUNurseEliz replied to ixchel's topic in General Nursing

    1) That drinking tons of water and being careful in general will still not prevent me from getting a raging UTI. I didn't even put produce up my lady parts and it happened! 2) That I still love...

  3. Negative Post on Facebook About New Nurses - I'm Fired Up!

    NICUNurseEliz replied to DisneyNurseGal's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I feel like she would have had gotten a better response if she had more calmly approached the nurse taking care of her SIL instead of "clawing" at the bandage and "demanding" a pair of bandage...

  4. DR fail

    NICUNurseEliz replied to serenitymmason's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Aww, you had a very rough night! The overall impression I'm getting from your story is that you were kind of set up for feeling like you failed here. Some things I picked out from what you wrote: 1)...

  5. What are some of the most ridiculous requests you have heard?

    NICUNurseEliz replied to Joe V's topic in General Nursing

    "Make my baby stop hiccuping!" Ok. I'll just push on their built in hiccuping button or give them some peanut butter for the roof of their mouth and it'll all stop. "You all need to get my baby...

  6. Being a preceptor.

    NICUNurseEliz replied to CardiacDork's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I love being a preceptor! Precepting is loads of work and can be frustrating at times but it's also rewarding. On my first day with someone new, we'll do introductions and take report on our patients...

  7. Which Milk Warmer Do You Use?

    NICUNurseEliz replied to mgturtle's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Absolutely! We don't have donor milk in place yet and it's so unfortunate to be giving formula (especially high calorie ones) to micropremies. Our NEC rate is quite high. It's improving with more moms...

  8. Which Milk Warmer Do You Use?

    NICUNurseEliz replied to mgturtle's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We use the Medela Waterless Warmers and change out the liners q24 hours. We used to just use pitchers and warm water but we love the warmers now and only use warm water if the Medela is occupied (we...

  9. NICU

    NICUNurseEliz replied to KHadlock's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I'm pasting what I wrote in another thread because I don't like typing that much : I didn't start as a new grad in the NICU (I worked a year in pediatric medsurg and then came to the NICU 3+ years...

  10. Not closing to siblings?!?!?!??

    NICUNurseEliz replied to aerorunner80's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Ours hasn't closed to siblings yet this year either! It's horrible because families keep bringing their coughing and sneezing young children and get super nasty when we tell them that no one sick is...

  11. Bedside report - hate it? Like it? Love it?

    NICUNurseEliz replied to ixchel's topic in General Nursing

    I'm a fan of it with working in the NICU. It's a nice way to give a full report since sometimes seeing the patient triggers memories from the day or good questions from the oncoming nurse. The only...

  12. 12/5: What I've learned this week - No, I don't have "just a second" to help you

    NICUNurseEliz replied to ixchel's topic in General Nursing

    That my black cloud at work is never ever leaving ever. That even though there are signs everywhere saying "Please do not visit the NICU when sick!", people will still bring their sneezing and...

  13. Deciding to take the CCRN

    NICUNurseEliz posted a topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Pardon me as I know the CCRN has been discussed here before but I didn't find anything recent or that answered my question. So here goes: :) I have been a NICU nurse for a few years now and I have...

  14. Attention NICU Nurses! What advice do you have for a new Grad RN?

    NICUNurseEliz replied to journey2success's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I didn't start as a new grad in the NICU (I worked a year in pediatric medsurg and then came to the NICU 3+ years ago) so I can't quite relate to where you are now. However, I do precept new grads...

  15. Spanish for NICU nurses

    NICUNurseEliz replied to Becca.B.'s topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Some universities and colleges will offer a Spanish course for healthcare providers. Would you be interested in something like that? You could ask your instructor about NICU-specific words in addition...

  16. The Dark Side of Nursing...

    NICUNurseEliz replied to maeli's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I have found my role as the RN is mostly just to support the parents/family of the baby. We will help the parents give the baby a bath if they want to and dress the baby in an outfit or bereavement...

  17. In desperate need of advice

    NICUNurseEliz replied to MrClean01's topic in General Nursing

    Your next step is to address your mental health needs! Until you get help for your paralyzing anxiety, there will never be a nursing program or job that you will want to stay for. Your anxiety is also...

  18. OR to NICU?

    NICUNurseEliz replied to ej1104's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    If you really want to work in the NICU, I think it's reasonable to go from the OR to the NICU. There will be a high learning curve, but I found it to be a large learning curve when I came from...

  19. What to choose, NICU vs PICU?

    NICUNurseEliz replied to novicenurse123's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I work in a level 3 NICU and here are some of our common diagnoses: -prematurity (obviously!) ranging from 22/23 weeks gestational age upward -respiratory distress syndrome...

  20. NICU Orientation

    NICUNurseEliz replied to babyRN0404's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Ha, sounds like my unit these days! Some of our recent preceptors have only worked in the unit for 18 months-2 years. I was a bit short of having worked there for 3 years when they asked me to...

  21. What do you eat in the morning?

    NICUNurseEliz replied to turnforthenurse's topic in General Nursing

    I always eat turkey sausage (store-bought or make your own and freeze it), a banana, and a serving of cashews or almonds. Or I will have 2 whole grain waffles with PB and a

  22. What thrills you/what terrifies you?

    NICUNurseEliz replied to Philly85's topic in General Nursing

    Thrilling: intubations! I love a good RSI! Terrifying: bedside surgery (though mostly it's just annoying trying to work around the surgeons, anesthesia, and all the equipment they

  23. Requesting words of encouragement… I’m a new grad having a breakdown at work right now.

    NICUNurseEliz replied to BeatsPerMinute's topic in First Year After Licensure

    I started as a new grad in pediatrics and watched multiple children die within my first month of starting. I remember that feeling of panicking that I would lose another to the point that it was...

  24. Sodium Bicarb

    NICUNurseEliz replied to Katie_nicuRN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We give bicarb for prolonged metabolic acidosis (base excess usually less than Our unit used to hang bicarb drips fairly frequently but I haven't seen one in several years