NicuGal MSN, RN

NICU, PICU, PACU

Member

  • Content

    2,743

  • Visitors

    24,540

  • Followers

    0

  • Likes

    47

All Content by NicuGal

  1. NicuGal

    LOW Census

    NicuGal replied to Sweeper933's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    That's how we were early this year until early summer 60+ kids!...now we have the chronic after kids. Our census has been middle of the road for the past few months
  2. NicuGal

    Fluid Changing practices

    NicuGal replied to NANSNURSE's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Steve's right. I think that the CDC says 72 hours is fine for most fluids. We leave our TPN line for 72 hours, med tubing 72 hours and the IL line is only 24. We change ours at the bedside, why...
  3. NicuGal

    Question about soap.

    NicuGal replied to NANSNURSE's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We don't use soap on the under kilo kids either...it does cause problems with the skin mantle. We use warm sterile water on those kiddos. Older kids only get bathed twice a week unless they are...
  4. NicuGal

    Is this an outdated visitation policy?

    NicuGal replied to Burnt Out's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I am so glad we have supportive management when it comes to visiting! We follow our rules very closely, and yes there are times for exceptions. The one that parents hate is this: You must have...
  5. NicuGal

    policy for flushing INT's

    NicuGal replied to casper82's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    What's the difference between a saline lock and a PIV that is capped? We only use heparin on our central lines when they are capped off, those are flushed once a shift if nothing is running thru...
  6. NicuGal

    HELP with pedi blood titration

    NicuGal replied to disComBobUlated86's topic in Pediatric

    ped-gree is right. The volume can be based on weight also, and you need to know how long the blood is ordered to hang, it could be as short as 2
  7. NicuGal

    Test weighing babies <35 weeks during breast feeding

    NicuGal replied to cleo_parvi's topic in Pediatric

    We haven't done it in years. We don't even aspirate from the belly anymore. We let them nurse for 10-15 minutes twice a day to start, and advance them based on if they are gaining weight each day....
  8. NicuGal

    Is this an outdated visitation policy?

    NicuGal replied to Burnt Out's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Sounds like you need to ask your brother, your mom may have misunderstood. I'd have to vote with something going on in the unit....we are heading into RSV season and we will soon be shutting down to...
  9. NicuGal

    STABLE question.

    NicuGal replied to HappyPediRN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    It isn't the same as NRP, like someone else said, you may find the second part confusing haven't been a nicu nurse, but anyone could benefit from the first part. You said you aren't a NICU nurse yet,...
  10. NicuGal

    Textbook of Neonatal Resuscitation?? For NRP

    NicuGal replied to lccougar02's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Did you try Amazon.com ? We just bought ours in bulk at our hospital, but I don't think we got a
  11. NicuGal

    Sibling Visitation Rules Exist For A Reason...

    NicuGal replied to Sweeper933's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Oh man! Did the staff have to get titers also? That happened to us one time with a RESIDENT! Can we say idiot??? Luckily he didn't make it into the unit, but he was in the conference room and we...
  12. NicuGal

    Pressure limits on infusion pumps

    NicuGal replied to corks's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    That is a tough one. We use Alaris and they are set anywhere from 25-75 unless it is a one french picc then it is over 100, esp with IL infusing in it Oh, I had a bad infiltrate last week....I...
  13. NicuGal

    UAC fluid/antiseptic

    NicuGal replied to dbscandy's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We use chlorprep and then sterile water to clean off after insertion. All kids get half normal saline with half unit of heparin per ml. On the micronates, we use half ns with one quarter unit of...
  14. NicuGal

    Visitation and family centered care

    NicuGal replied to HighCensus's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    question #1: are grandparents and/or siblings limited to certain hours for visitation? (i.e. 0900-2100).grandparents can visit from 11am to 10pm with the parents, same for sibs over the age of 4, sibs...
  15. NicuGal

    Which types of patients should I not take care of while pregnant?

    NicuGal replied to RN 4 U's topic in General Nursing

    The list from the CDC for infectious diseases is pretty much on the money! As for the Group B strep, you do know that it isn't contagious don't you? You could be colonized right now and not know it,...
  16. NicuGal

    Dress Codes for the ER

    NicuGal replied to nursebrandie28's topic in Emergency

    In my hospital, that would get you written up and then mostly likely terminiated for violating dress code, pretty gutsy for a newbie. Can you wear a jacket over the
  17. NicuGal

    Peripheral line infiltrartion

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

    If it has just happened you can use Wydase, or NS injected in several increments around the area, but you will need a hospital policy for either to cover your butt. Unfortunatley, NAHCO3 leaves a...
  18. NicuGal

    am I going to be in trouble?

    NicuGal replied to Ms.RN's topic in General Nursing

    They called you at home? Do they do that? Please tell me you did an incident report at work, that is what you need to refer to. Personally, I would have told this person when I was going to be at...
  19. NicuGal

    Why Bachelors over Associates?!? is it worth it?

    NicuGal replied to NurseToBe20100102's topic in General Nursing

    I agree with Blee....I'd get the BSN now, I know our hospital is not keen on hiring anything less than a BSN (we are a Magnet facility). We had to fight with upper management to hire on one girl that...
  20. NicuGal

    Doll Therapy

    NicuGal replied to NurseWillow's topic in General Nursing

    My daughter's girlscout troop buys dolls for the LTC facility they volunteer at! They did this as part of their bronze award :) It gives them such joy to see those little old ladies loving up their...
  21. NicuGal

    Do you allow rings of any kind in your NICU??? and other infection questions...

    NicuGal replied to NANSNURSE's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    One wedding band and a watch, no long sleeves for patient care, no fake nails (staff or moms...they have to glove). We do a 3 minute entry scrub and wash and purell in between. Visitors scrub
  22. NicuGal

    aminophylline

    NicuGal replied to mawjood's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We rarely use aminophylline, only on big chronic kids that need bronchodilators. We use IV caffeine and then switch to
  23. NicuGal

    You Know You're a NICU Nurse When...

    NicuGal replied to SteveNNP's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Oh, those are all good LOL You threaten to take the security band off that screaming chronic and put him in the hall with a sign that says TAKE ME....and you know darn well they'd get to the elevator...
  24. NicuGal

    Great story about a preemie from over 20 years ago!

    NicuGal replied to BittyBabyGrower's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    What a heartwarming story!! Dawn, 20 some years ago those babies were weighed everyday, suctioned every 2 hours around the clock and many other things that we now know aren't great. That was when the...
  25. NicuGal

    infection control

    NicuGal replied to RN4BABES's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    I'm with Steve...I don't get what humidity you are talking about. Actually, we don't just change them for maintence...if you go to IHI.org and look at bundles, you will see that changing isolettes is...