NicuGal MSN, RN

NICU, PICU, PACU

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All Content by NicuGal

  1. NicuGal

    I finally have a job, but.....(vent)

    NicuGal replied to WildcatFanRN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I would just concentrate on the job you were hired for. SICU orientation is going to be involved and time consuming, I wouldn't be worrying about another unit at this time. Also, most places will...
  2. NicuGal

    feeding problems

    NicuGal replied to carla.hca's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Geez, they are only about what 32 weeks? We never feed over 30 minutes....then you are just fighting to finish. What about that poor mom...has she stayed and fed those kids? We use up to 30 cal,...
  3. NicuGal

    Trach Collar Trials /Sprinting

    NicuGal replied to NeoNurse04's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We have caps that our RT's supply us with...we cap our ambu bags and ET tubing when not in use. You could always wrap it in a sterile drape and tape it
  4. NicuGal

    Heelstick vs venipuncture?

    NicuGal replied to gudiarani's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Heelsticks unless a large volume is needed then it is from an art stick. If it is a bigger kid with a central line we will use that. We rarely use
  5. NicuGal

    Severe BPD

    NicuGal replied to bbnyrse's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Does he have PPHN? That seems to be what does most of the long term BPDers in We have had a some do well on viagra, others no matter what we do, they just can't make it. We have had kids up to a...
  6. NicuGal

    Outcomes for Periventricular Leukomalacia(PVL)

    NicuGal replied to helicoptergal's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    PVL...a lot depends on where the cysts and "holes " are. Some kids have a lot of muscular issues, like CP, yet others are deaf and blind. The problem is that it is usually seen as echogenicity in...
  7. NicuGal

    Gravity Feeds

    NicuGal replied to NICU Mama's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We do both. We don't have a specific protocal relating to this. Some kids do better with gravity...if they reflux, the feed tends to stop and then restart on it's own, and they don't seem to B as...
  8. NicuGal

    Just a little night shift venting about day shift...

    NicuGal replied to iLovemyJackRT's topic in General Nursing

    wow....we clock in....10 unexcused tardies and HR has you take the long walk down the
  9. NicuGal

    Ett suction preterms

    NicuGal replied to johan john's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Your unit needs to get up on the lasted EBP articles!! You can go to medscape or IHI.org and look them up, but for several years now has been said to not use saline..it actually increases your VAP's...
  10. NicuGal

    Preemie Mom turned NICU Nurse?

    NicuGal replied to krltdy's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We have a few...and they are great. We had two that we didn't keep, they got too emotional and caught up in the moment. You have to look at how do YOU think you would be and can you handle it. If...
  11. NicuGal

    Please fax your NICU visitor policy.....

    NicuGal replied to tampa,rnc-nic's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Parents have 24 hour visitation Parents have unlimited visitors between the hours of 11am and 10pm, only 3 at the bed at one time, one has to be a parent. No special grandparent hours or etc, they...
  12. NicuGal

    Maybe I need some reassurance...

    NicuGal replied to RNin2007's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We do incident reports on unplanned extubations because there is risk during the reintubation process and to help track for PI projects. It happens...there are some kids that feel the need for a new...
  13. NicuGal

    Fall from weighing scale

    NicuGal replied to johan john's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We had it happen once about 10 years ago....it was a bigger kid and the nurse took her hand off the kid for a minute to grab something and he flipped over the side! It was horrible...he did end up...
  14. NicuGal

    suctioning the intubated pt...1 nurse/RT, or 2?

    NicuGal replied to kessadawn's topic in PICU, Pediatric

    Our hospital policy states that if no inline, then you must 2 man suction, no 1 man. Does your hospital's vent/suctioning policy say anything? That would be the best route to
  15. NicuGal

    Relocating to Cleveland to work at Cleveland Clinic

    NicuGal replied to Flagger03's topic in Ohio Nursing

    The area around the main campus...no way would I live there! The Western subs are nice too...Westlake, Avon, etc. I you want l/d in a big hospital, UH or Metro are the places to go, CCF doesn't have...
  16. NicuGal

    NICU Parent Discharge Education

    NicuGal replied to s.maire.2126's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We had something like that in place, but we were not getting a good turnout, despite saying that they had to come. We legally couldn't hold a d/c because they didn't go to the class. Our monitor...
  17. NicuGal

    Trach Question

    NicuGal replied to RN4Little1s's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We keep vaseline guaze and 4x4 at bedside...I've had to do that a couple of times...yuck. Or, sometimes the docs can get a smaller size OET in the stoma...like a 2.5 and you can ventilate like
  18. NicuGal

    Gastric decompression in respiratory distress

    NicuGal replied to busyrn62's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    All resp distress kids get an og/ng for decompression, esp ones not
  19. NicuGal

    on site counseling

    NicuGal replied to spacey's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We have 2 dedicated social workers for our unit, but we also have 4 others that help cover peds. We tried support groups, but always had a poor turnout...I think our demographics have something to...
  20. NicuGal

    Death rates in your NICU?

    NicuGal replied to babyNP.'s topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Depends on the acuity and the gestational ages of the
  21. NicuGal

    E.Coli in sputum aspirate cx

    NicuGal replied to NICURN04's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    E. Coli is one of those bugs that can migrate out of the bowel and go anywhere. We have been finding that our bad gut kids that have mulitple contrast enemas, swallows, etc end up with E.Coli sepsis,...
  22. NicuGal

    VENT.....this really sucks

    NicuGal replied to WildcatFanRN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Wow. I see that you have adult background as an LPN. I have found that sometimes people coming from adults do have a harder time with time management in an ICU setting and they have other habits...
  23. NicuGal

    NNP v. PNP in follow up clinics

    NicuGal replied to bijou214's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Our hospital only uses NNP's in the NICU, PNP's in nursery. They use both in our preemie follow up clinic. We have several girls that are both and float between
  24. NicuGal

    Enteral Feeding equipment

    NicuGal replied to NICU_babyRN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We use the orange striped one. Purple is for UK...just a tidbit lol We had to change from using regular syringes and tubing to
  25. NicuGal

    UACs and tegaderm use

    NicuGal replied to NICU_Nurse_3986's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Yuk...we don't cover the stumps...I hate when even a little piece of it gets caught under