BiscuitStripes BSN, RN

BiscuitStripes has 2 years experience as a BSN, RN and specializes in ICU & Emergency Department.

"You can't cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water."
- Rabindranath Tagore

BiscuitStripes's Latest Activity

1. 

   Not Many Vented Patients - How Acute if Your ICU?

   BiscuitStripes posted a topic in Critical

   I'm pretty new to the ICU, I came from the ED at a different hospital. I was wondering how acute your ICU is and if mine isn't very acute compared to others? My hospital is 320 beds, Level III Trauma Center, in the suburbs of a major metropolitan area. The ICU is 20 beds, non-specific/specialized, just the one ICU in the hospital. Our typical patients include CHF, COPD, ETOH Withdrawal/OD, Pneumonia, STEMI, Post Arrest, Hypothermia After Cardiac Arrest, Post-Cath Lab with sheaths, Stroke, Subarachnoid Hemorrhages, EVDs, Deep Brain Stimulator Placement, DKA, COVID. We do CRRT but it's fairly rare, probably <10 a year. We also do balloon pumps and impellas but I've been told we get maybe 3-4 a year. On any given day, we average about 1/3 of our patients being intubated. If 1/2 of our patients are intubated, that's a lot of vents for us. Usually I have two non-vented patients, sometimes I have 1 vented and 1 non-vented. I've yet to have two vented patients, that's pretty uncommon and if it were to happen, they usually reserve two vented patients for very senior nurses. Most patients are alert and oriented and can get out of bed for PT and to use the commode. Of course I'm learning a lot because I'm new, but I feel like we're not a very acute unit? On average, I had more vented patients in the ED than I do in the ICU. How does this compare to other ICUs? I feel like when I talk to friends who work in or did internships in ICUs, most patients were very acute, vented, multiple drips, etc., a lot of our patients are saline locked or just have maintenance fluids.
2. 

   How long in ICU before CCRN? (Went ED to ICU)

   BiscuitStripes replied to BiscuitStripes's topic in Critical

   I started studying some of the CCRN material before I started in the the ICU to try and prepare for the transition. Now as I'm starting to see some of these things in practice, I was going to keep studying and potentially take it at the 6 month mark.
3. 

   How long in ICU before CCRN? (Went ED to ICU)

   BiscuitStripes posted a topic in Critical

   I went from the ED to the ICU so I have some experience caring for ICU level patients. I've been in the ICU now for 2 months. AACN accepts hours in an ED for the hour requirement, so I'm eligible to sit for the exam on my ED hours alone. But I was wondering how long should I give it in the ICU before taking the exam? One, I want to make sure I'm ready, two, I think people would look at me sideways if I got it after just 3 months in the ICU. Thoughts?
4. 

   Chaining Stopcocks instead of Y-Siting Multiple Lines?

   BiscuitStripes replied to BiscuitStripes's topic in Critical

   That break down helps a lot, thank you!
5. 

   Chaining Stopcocks instead of Y-Siting Multiple Lines?

   BiscuitStripes replied to BiscuitStripes's topic in Critical

   That’s very insightful thank you!
6. 

   Chaining Stopcocks instead of Y-Siting Multiple Lines?

   BiscuitStripes posted a topic in Critical

   I'm new to the ICU, switched from the ED. On another message board, I read from an ICU nurse that he/she uses several stopcocks chained together, with one end connected to the central line, the back end to TKO fluid, and the side ports for all of their lines so it stays more organized instead of Y-siting everything together. I thought this sounded like a really good idea. I then learned that there are even commercial devices that do this same thing. I then started in my ICU and we do not have the commercial device. I asked my preceptor and she said no one uses stopcocks, everyone Y-sites everything. I asked a friend at a different ICU how they do it and he said the same thing, just Y site it. . So, I was wondering if anyone else does this with stopcocks or the commercial device? I hate when a med gets d/c'd and it's the third, fourth, fifth, etc. down the Y-site chain and you have to disassemble everything to get to it. Plus it tends to get tangled very easily. Yet since my preceptor said she doesn't do stopcocks and doesn't know anyone else who does, and I'm new to the ICU, I don't want people to think what am I doing if I did it once I'm off orientation?? Thoughts? Insight is appreciated! I found some pictures to demonstrate what I'm talking about. One is with stopcocks, the other a commercial device.
7. 

   What does "s/t" mean?

   BiscuitStripes replied to mymoment4life's topic in Student Assist

   I've always used it secondary to. Pt is admitted to the ICU for PNA (pneumonia) s/t (secondary to) COVID infection. It means that one thing came after and as a result of the first thing. So the PNA is a result of COVID, hence PNA is s/t COVID.
8. 

   Is it possible to get a RN job with a 2.92 GPA?

   BiscuitStripes replied to drooljewel's topic in General Students

   In my time as a nurse, I've worked in three different states and have applied, interviewed, and been offered many jobs. Not once in any of these situations was I asked my GPA. The only time I have seen GPA even potentially be a factor was for very competitive new grad programs at competitive hospitals in California, and even then, most don't ask. Don't worry about your GPA, and don't list it on your resume. No one is going to ask for it. As long as you're licensed, you're good to go.
9. 

   University of Washington (UW) DNP 2021

   BiscuitStripes replied to BiscuitStripes's topic in School Programs

   I live in the Seattle area and my still says submitted. I’d imagine where you live is something they take into consideration though.
10. 

    University of Washington (UW) DNP 2021

    BiscuitStripes replied to BiscuitStripes's topic in School Programs

    Yeah that’s what mine looks like still too 😔
11. 

    University of Washington (UW) DNP 2021

    BiscuitStripes replied to BiscuitStripes's topic in School Programs

    Halfway across the world? Where do you live?
12. 

    Relocation Benefit: Leaving Before Term, Anyone Asked to Repay?

    BiscuitStripes posted a topic in General Career

    I'm considering leaving my employer before the 1 year term I signed for my relocation benefit. I know I signed the contract, but I'm wondering if anyone has had the hospital actually ask for the money? While I'm not opposed to paying it back, I don't have that much money right now either (the company that moved me said it was almost $9,000), which the hospital states in the contract is due on the final day of employment should you terminate before 1 year. I'd be willing to pay it back over time, or considered staying per diem because the contract just says if I "terminate employment" and I thought if I stay per diem I'm not technically terminating employment. Any experience with this would be appreciated (also please don't tell me to just stay the 1 year, I'm aware of that).
13. 

    CSUSM ABSN FALL 2020

    BiscuitStripes replied to DD_futurenurse's topic in School Programs

    That orientation day is usually the Friday before the first Monday of classes.
14. 

    CSUSM ABSN FALL 2020

    BiscuitStripes replied to DD_futurenurse's topic in School Programs

    I graduated last year. During the entire program I was given my schedule anywhere from a couple of days to maybe at most, 1 week before the semester started. Be prepared for last minute info and last minute changes.
15. 

    University of Washington (UW) DNP 2021

    BiscuitStripes replied to BiscuitStripes's topic in School Programs

    I guess this was to be expected based on the article someone posted about grad schools apps increasing during times of economic hardship. They also said the ABSN program had three times the normal amount of applicants this year. Sucks all the DNP programs are gonna have more applicants and only half the spots.
16. 

    University of Washington (UW) DNP 2021

    BiscuitStripes replied to BiscuitStripes's topic in School Programs

    Could be that I misheard and they said 23 for each AC and PC but I thought she said it was together and that if one had less applicants than the other, more would be admitted to the track with more applicants. So maybe it's 23 each, but I think 23 total is plausible as well due to COVID, reduced capacity for students both academically and clinically?