NicuGal MSN, RN

NICU, PICU, PACU

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All Content by NicuGal

  1. NicuGal

    NICU questions- a few weeks in

    NicuGal replied to noodles1987's topic in General Nursing

    What lucky you said, check hospital standards and policy/procedure. A lot of what we do is nursing driven or unit culture. We use Lippincott for many of our procedures, etc and have it online under...
  2. NicuGal

    NICU Critical Thinking Experiences

    NicuGal replied to WvSeven77's topic in General Nursing

    Number 2: if they are in an open bassinet, you should be implementing safe sleep. No rolls, etc. Number 5: what would be running thru there at such a slow rate, and if it a number of meds that do...
  3. NicuGal

    New Residency program(s)

    NicuGal replied to livmoore89's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Most large teaching hospitals have them and are usually only offered a few times a year. Your best bet is to call the hospital recruiters and ask. We only do ours twice a
  4. NicuGal

    NRP, PALS, or STABLE to help my resume?

    NicuGal replied to cat1235's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Actually, more things do fall into place with NRP when combined with orientation. I suggested STABLE as it is applicable not only in NICU but also in NBN. You may not be able to get into NICU right...
  5. NicuGal

    NRP, PALS, or STABLE to help my resume?

    NicuGal replied to cat1235's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We don't even look at it when we hire. But if I had to pick one, I'd do
  6. NicuGal

    Policy statements

    NicuGal replied to mother1111's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    Check with legal before you say to use family members as interpreters. You should have certified interpreters or language lines in place. We have families who do NOT want to use the facility...
  7. NicuGal

    Epinephrine for Bradycardia in PALS but not ACLS

    NicuGal replied to Anastasiak's topic in General Nursing

    We pretty much only use Epi. On rare occasion, usually with an older kid do we use atropine. You can also use Epi down the OET which comes in handy in the DR when there is no
  8. NicuGal

    Translator for patients

    NicuGal replied to Auttybee's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    We used certified translators also. We also do not let family members translate unless the patient/parent has signed a waiver refusing the translator. You have no idea what that person is telling...
  9. NicuGal

    Males working in the NICU?

    NicuGal replied to cph1993's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We have 8 guys on our unit...we lobe them, the dad's love them...someone to talk sports with lol and they even out our estrogen overload
  10. NicuGal

    Why do managers ask you to contact them with questions after interviews?

    NicuGal replied to RNdynamic's topic in Job Search, Interview, Resume

    Are you sure she isn't just off for the holidays? Ours take time now since it is slow administrative wise these two
  11. NicuGal

    Influenza

    NicuGal replied to xoemmylouox's topic in General Nursing

    This and a stomach bug are making it's way thru our hospital! And parents were complaining that they couldn't have visitors with them for holidays! I get it, but if your little one gets it, you may...
  12. NicuGal

    Nicu to Medical/Surgical floor

    NicuGal replied to Jammersrn's topic in Medical-Surgical

    Are you saying take the baby to med surg to room in??? Why would you do that? Is this your norm? Our moms room in on antepartum, postpartum or PICU but the baby stays in the NICU. Just gives mom a...
  13. NicuGal

    General peds or NICU opportunity

    NicuGal replied to MGMR's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    The thing with a long commute is this: what if there is bad weather, backed up traffic, etc. Many places are not giving when it comes to being late for any reason. Many do not even care if the...
  14. NicuGal

    Why do we not get paid for lunch even if we never get to take one?

    NicuGal replied to leekaye's topic in General Nursing

    Is this your whole unit? Inwould be signing no lunch for
  15. NicuGal

    Advice for per diem rn

    NicuGal replied to CaseyMarieRN's topic in General Nursing

    I'd send a copy of your new contract to payroll. That may get things
  16. NicuGal

    Do you carry around your stethoscope?

    NicuGal replied to tarotale's topic in General Nursing

    Wonder how legal would be if something ends up in court and your routine care protocol wasn't followed. Just asking for
  17. NicuGal

    Would you take a patient's blood sugar without an "order"?

    NicuGal replied to Nola009's topic in General Nursing

    I Asked my adult counterparts this at work: Answer is our hospital has a standing order for glucoses on diabetic patients. So I would ask the patient if they feel symptomatic and if the answer is yes...
  18. NicuGal

    Would you take a patient's blood sugar without an "order"?

    NicuGal replied to Nola009's topic in General Nursing

    Is it that hard to get an order? Insurance will not pay if it isn't ordered indicated. Our glucometers are wifi and automatically download to our EHR so we can't get away with a random under the...
  19. NicuGal

    Tips on being a parent

    NicuGal replied to Alex Egan's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Congrats on your little one! My best advice is to be there for rounds every day if you can. If you can't be there for rounds, then call right after to see what the plan is. You can listen to them,...
  20. NicuGal

    Why I Want to work in the NICU... is this enough?

    NicuGal replied to nursingstudent0814's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Actually, everything you stated can be applied to every area of nursing. All patients deserve the best care, someone to be their advocate, and for someone to care for and support their family. These...
  21. NicuGal

    Attendance

    NicuGal replied to IttyBittyBabyRN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Intermittant FMLA call offs on the weekends are made up. This was run by HR. I am not kidding you when I say that before this rule, we had a crazy number of call offs on weekends. A few were fired...
  22. NicuGal

    NICU goal

    NicuGal replied to andiescandies's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    If you can't get into NICU right away, try for nursery, peds or PICU. ER is pretty diverse and you won't get the infant/peds experience. Given a choice over an ER nurse and a PICU nurse, I would hire...
  23. NicuGal

    Different Shift Hours

    NicuGal replied to resqbug's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Ours is a good mix and we rarely have lopsided
  24. NicuGal

    Different Shift Hours

    NicuGal replied to resqbug's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We had all kinds of crazy 12 hour shifts but have transitioned to 7a/7p and straight 8 hour shifts if people want
  25. NicuGal

    Attendance

    NicuGal replied to IttyBittyBabyRN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Thanks for the hint Ruby...since it is right below yours....this is one of the reasons I don't come on here much...people micromanaging others posts.