NicuGal MSN, RN

NICU, PICU, PACU

Member

  • Content

    2,743

  • Visitors

    24,540

  • Followers

    0

  • Likes

    47

All Content by NicuGal

  1. NicuGal

    Different colored scrubs for OB/LDR/Nursery for infant security

    NicuGal replied to detra's topic in Ob/Gyn

    Our legal came up with this: Anyone that watches a floor can go out and buy whatever color scrubs the nurses/workers are wearing. Our badges are bright pink and they are the only ones that will...
  2. NicuGal

    NICU Breastmilk Support Groups

    NicuGal replied to Samscar's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We went thru something similar a bit back and that is when we totally rolled out a central line bundle with hours of re-education. We have a lactation team that deals with all the moms and the...
  3. NicuGal

    Please help, call in sick for morning or go in?

    NicuGal replied to beeble's topic in General Nursing

    Do you have a fever? That could be the deciding factor...with sniffles and such we just mask up, fever means staying home, or coughing incessently. If they don't want you there, they will let you...
  4. NicuGal

    Oral feeding on nasal CPAP??

    NicuGal replied to Carmen Huston's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We do feed kids on CPAP and high flow cannulas and vapotherm, but they are fed with an OG usually. We typically don't nipple these kids. High flow cannulas we feed up to 3 liters regardless of FIO2...
  5. NicuGal

    Clinicals and breastfeeding.

    NicuGal replied to minkajane's topic in General Students

    Ask if there is an employee pumping room...many hospitals offer this! As long as your work is done and you do it on your lunch and break it shouldn't be a problem. Just know that once in a while if...
  6. NicuGal

    Social Network and Hiring...Employers use your posts

    NicuGal replied to xtxrn's topic in General Nursing

    Yes, there are ways they can get around it...and I don't think that many people are aware of this but every single comment, post and picture you post on facebook is archived and can be recalled by...
  7. NicuGal

    Call off guidelines

    NicuGal replied to MKS8806's topic in General Nursing

    1. OT for the day 2. ET for the day 3. Retired PRN (we have a retired RN program) 4. PRN If after all that we still have extras we go by a list we keep with cancel dates written in it. If no one...
  8. NicuGal

    VAP Bundles/Guidelines

    NicuGal replied to NICURN29's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    The link we change every 3 days, the suction cath itself is changed every day, it doesn't really break the circuit as the catheter is outside of the port. We used to change the cath every 3 days but...
  9. NicuGal

    Quitting my $63K job as a legal assistant for nursing school

    NicuGal replied to reed201's topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    Many of us approaching 50 or 60 didn't have all the "modern" lift things etc and we worked our tails off...and we did team nursing which usually involved 20 patients with one aide and running on our...
  10. NicuGal

    How to get specialty certification

    NicuGal replied to Tracey2bRN's topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    Yes you have to have 2 years experience (I think it is so many hours). This for the ANCC (which may have a new name by now lol I can never keep up even though I have 2 lol) certifications. You can...
  11. NicuGal

    VAP Bundles/Guidelines

    NicuGal replied to NICURN29's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We gathered a lot of our info from http://www.ihi.org Somethings we do: Inline suction only unless specifically ordered. Separate suction for oral and ETT/trach suction All ambu bags must be capped...
  12. NicuGal

    pet peeves when nursing students arrive

    NicuGal replied to sandanrnstudent's topic in General Nursing

    I agree...if you have checked if off on your list, it doesn't mean you shouldn't do it again! When you get out in the real world you are going to wish you had put in 100 foleys and 100 ngs and did...
  13. NicuGal

    Help! Pre-employment nicotine test!

    NicuGal replied to noviceRN22's topic in General Nursing

    Where my husband works, a very large well know institution (world renowned lol) if your BMI is a certain number they require you to enroll in a weight program, if you have hypertension they require...
  14. NicuGal

    Hypothermia Protocol

    NicuGal replied to jrodhuskers's topic in General Nursing

    Are you talking adults or peds? In NICU those patients are 2:1 for the first 24 hours (at least in our unit) then they are 1:1 for the rest of the time until they have been rewarmed for 24
  15. NicuGal

    Antiobiotic delivery via iv pump in NICU

    NicuGal replied to Carrybee's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Wow is all I can say....every major institution I know of uses syringes pumps. If they aren't going to invest in syringe pumps they need to come up with a better set up. I wonder if they can use a...
  16. NicuGal

    Dextrose 10% IV in NICU

    NicuGal replied to Carrybee's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    It can be any size you have, we use 500ml bags because that is what we stock. And not all units use buretrols, we haven't used them since the late 80's, since pumps have improved and are more...
  17. NicuGal

    NG/OG collection device

    NicuGal replied to sherirn127's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We put an extention tubing (wide one like an anesthesia set without the filter) to a sputum trap, then you can apply suction or let open to
  18. NicuGal

    What's REALLY with the hospitals using Magnet as a cover for wanting BSN only nurses?

    NicuGal replied to foreverLaur's topic in Diploma, ADN, BSN

    I work at a Magnet Facility....it has improved our work conditions :) That said, yes, they have to have a certain percent of their RN's with BSN's to be able to reapply. We have been pretty much...
  19. NicuGal

    Beta Strep

    NicuGal replied to TLSpaz's topic in Ob/Gyn

    We treat all of ours too. Babies that mom's have inadequete treatment get at least 48 hours of antibiotics pending blood cultures. I've seen 4 babies die from GBS sepsis...it happens
  20. NicuGal

    Documentation "No-No's"?

    NicuGal replied to elb252's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    It drives me crazy when another nurse uses my name. In our facility (and when we were taught in school) we use "nurse or LPN on previous shift" isntead of a name. I will also document "this writer"...
  21. NicuGal

    Quitting my $63K job as a legal assistant for nursing school

    NicuGal replied to reed201's topic in Nursing Student Assistance

    Good Luck to you! Nursing is demanding and I am able to retire at 51...and I am taking it! After 30 years on my feet, the physical demands are hard...even working in a NICU...your back might be...
  22. NicuGal

    BPs on an infant

    NicuGal replied to A&OxNone's topic in Pediatric

    It is extremely hard to get a manuel, sure you can feel the brachial, but to hear it over a screaming baby is another game lol It is standard to get machine BP's on infants. If the diastolic was...
  23. NicuGal

    Coached on carrying Narcotics in my pocket...

    NicuGal replied to royaso's topic in General Nursing

    Absolutely right, you should have returned the other pill. That would have been bad if you forgot about it and walked out with
  24. NicuGal

    Transporting palliative/DNR/dying/dead neonates

    NicuGal replied to wensday's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I forgot to add, if they are going to a long term care facility, we don't go with them, they go with the ambulance crew in a car seat or car bed. When they go to hospice, usually the parents go with...
  25. NicuGal

    Impaired mothers at the bedside.

    NicuGal replied to BabyLady's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    If you were very impaired and it wasn't safe for you to hold the baby, then you wouldn't be holding the baby. Has nothing to do with race, etc., it comes down to the baby's