NicuGal MSN, RN

NICU, PICU, PACU

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All Content by NicuGal

  1. NicuGal

    Facebook almost cost me my job

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

    We have had several people fired and even more taken to HR for a talking too. We have a social networking policy in place and it pretty much says you can NOT talk bad about the place of employment...
  2. NicuGal

    A patient's experience with RUDE nursing staff.. Should this be reported?

    NicuGal replied to digoe74's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    As a former manager of a large unit, my advice is to call and see if there is an ombudsman and go from there. I will say that people will always be like that, but if you are going to be like that,...
  3. NicuGal

    Response to Pregnant Friends

    NicuGal replied to littleneoRN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I don't say anything...but if they ask I just say, you know, homebirth wasn't for me, and leave it at that. When they got more adamant then I laid it out and told them it was a personal
  4. NicuGal

    5 mo pregnant and still looking for a job

    NicuGal replied to RI Nurse's topic in General Nursing

    It does cost a lot to train a new nurse...you are paying for out of staff days for classes, you are paying the fees for those classes, you are paying someone to be a preceptor on top of their wages...
  5. NicuGal

    I almost had an unnecessary procedure performed

    NicuGal replied to jschex6's topic in General Nursing

    I had something like that happen to me....there are 3 people in our system who have the same name, first and last, as I do. We all go to the same OB/GYN. I got a call one day to schedule my...
  6. NicuGal

    With all the attitudes at work - Now my daughter is turning into a Diva

    NicuGal replied to tiroka03's topic in General Nursing

    Yup...got one that thought she needed a crown, along with a maid, etc. I plopped the vacuum in front of her, along with the Pledge, rags, Windex and the mop with the selection of cleaning solutions...
  7. NicuGal

    Full time vs. per diem

    NicuGal replied to apey08's topic in General Nursing

    Working PRN as a new grad isn't the best thing to do, esp in an area like OB. You will most likely not receive a full orientation as you would if you were working FT. Also, do they float their...
  8. NicuGal

    Nurse suicide follows infant tragedy

    NicuGal replied to babyNP.'s topic in Nursing News

    This is incredibly sad This poor woman was thrown under the bus. And they wonder why people don't report med errors! We no longer are able to draw up any of our own meds, except for a select few...
  9. NicuGal

    how long until nicotine and byproducts are flushed from your system?

    NicuGal replied to ashleyisawesome's topic in General Nursing

    Where I work, if you are on a patch you get a pass. I'd check into that and slap a patch on. I don't know if the metabolites are different from a patch and a cigarette
  10. NicuGal

    Vacation time being denied

    NicuGal replied to krenee's topic in General Nursing

    That doesnt' sound right! We did EPIC training and it was spread out over months like yours is and we still let 180 hours of vacation go out per week. The only thing I can think of is that they are...
  11. NicuGal

    Hanging dopamine and preventing accidental bolus

    NicuGal replied to neoicu2684's topic in General Nursing

    We dont' have enough pumps to do what the other nicu person suggested,. My advice is to get it all primed and ready to go, get the old set out fast, hook the new one up and start it before you...
  12. NicuGal

    You might be a PACU nurse if...

    NicuGal replied to mustanggirl's topic in PACU

    The take a deep breath one is making me chuckle. I just had surgery about a month ago and the nurse told me I said to her " I heard you the first 5 times...I don't want to do that, I want to go to...
  13. NicuGal

    what is your local policy for extravasation/infiltration

    NicuGal replied to wensday's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We use saline injection, esp with TPN. We use hydral. with Dopa or Dobut infiltrates. Ours came from a roundtable meeting. We have a skin team that we call for bad infiltrates. They usually have...
  14. NicuGal

    would this be a hipaa violation?

    NicuGal replied to purse's topic in General Nursing

    Yes, this is a violation and a boundary
  15. NicuGal

    Pediatric patient- home nurse situations!?

    NicuGal replied to MomLPN4's topic in Private Duty

    You need to drop this case. You crossed an ethical boundary and that can put you in a bad position and possibly even make you lose your license if they report you out of
  16. NicuGal

    Coding visitors?

    NicuGal replied to blondy2061h's topic in General Nursing

    You have to call a code for visitors too. We hate when that happens in our unit because if you are over 10 pounds, you are out of our league except for CPR. We joke that we would like to drag them...
  17. NicuGal

    Malpractice Insurance?

    NicuGal replied to Jmiami's topic in General Nursing

    That is not true that they will go after you. They have to have cause. This is a decades old thought. 3 of my friends are CRNA's and they carry their own insurance. The person you practice under...
  18. NicuGal

    Orientation length??

    NicuGal replied to Shanlee79's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Ours is 12 weeks in the unit, with other weeks of practicum. When you are off orientation you are still assigned to a nurse to be your buddy for another 3
  19. NicuGal

    Malpractice Insurance?

    NicuGal replied to Jmiami's topic in General Nursing

    You should have your own coverage. If you deviate from a policy and procedure, the hospital is going to boot you to the curb. Med error on your part...boot you to the
  20. NicuGal

    Traveling with intubated patients

    NicuGal replied to mcleanl's topic in MICU, SICU

    We always take nurse, RT, and fellow at a minimum. More if we have a bunch of poles, etc. We bag the way there and depending on the procedure and the length of the procedure we bag thru. For...
  21. NicuGal

    correct order in which to suction a patient

    NicuGal replied to MaryAnn GambinoRN's topic in General Nursing

    Sterile would be trach then go nasoph and mouth, but always use separated catheters! And separate suction setups too. Ideally, you would do mouth first then
  22. NicuGal

    setting alarm clock to take pain meds?

    NicuGal replied to brownbook's topic in General Nursing

    You have to stay on top of the pain...I had an open reduction of tib/fib fracture with plates and screws and it was intensely painful. Bone pain is awful. Even after another surgery I set an alarm...
  23. NicuGal

    Frequent Broviac Infections - eek!

    NicuGal replied to Baboosh123's topic in General Nursing

    I agree, I would explain to mom that the infection rate is very high and you would like to see how she is changing the dressing. Does she use a biopatch? We only change our dressings every 7days...
  24. NicuGal

    Orientation not up to par

    NicuGal replied to Black Jade's topic in General Nursing

    Are you a new grad? If you are, PRN is just a bad idea because of not getting a full orientation. If you are a seasoned nurse, you may only get a brief orientation. Ours have a checklist and they...
  25. NicuGal

    We have to COUNT drugs like lisinopril and Claritin

    NicuGal replied to glutton4punishment's topic in General Nursing

    We have to count Tylenol bottles, vaseline guaze, little things of Toot Sweet (yes pyxis there is really 368 in there, like I'm going to count THAT!), eye drops, suppositories, and a multitude of...