NicuGal MSN, RN

NICU, PICU, PACU

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All Content by NicuGal

  1. NicuGal

    Nursing and Piercings?

    NicuGal replied to Wuiteroz's topic in General Nursing

    No visible facial piercings or tongues where I work either. I think that to be treated like a professional, you should look like one, not someone who is going out clubbing or whatnot. Just
  2. NicuGal

    ABG calculator from General Nursing thread

    NicuGal replied to P_RN's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    For a great neonatal one, you can order a card from the stable program for I think $5. stableprogram.org It is a great help with compensated, uncompensated, metabolic and respirtatory...
  3. NicuGal

    26g abbocath shortage...

    NicuGal replied to Lyssia's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Us too.....it is a pain to try to start an IV on one of those itsy bitsy's with a
  4. NicuGal

    Drawing Blood From PICC Lines

    NicuGal replied to rileygrl11's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    Another NICU here....we only draw off for cultures,nothing else...we have lost one too many lines from clotting. We also use a 5-10 cc syringe as advised by the manufacturer. We aren't supposed to...
  5. NicuGal

    pregnancy and isolation patients

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

    Chickenpox and CMV are the big no-no's on our unit. Also, we try to be considerate of each other and not give any isolated kids to preggies (with the exception of NEC). Our unit director has made...
  6. NicuGal

    how do you keep a nursing cap on?

    NicuGal replied to PowerPuffGirl's topic in General Nursing

    We wore ours in nursing school...it was always caught on something LOL Bobby pin the back and cross them in an X. Ours had this little tag in the front and we would put one thru there too. And be...
  7. NicuGal

    Lazy Student Nurse Preceptors!

    NicuGal replied to jfpruitt's topic in General Nursing

    Matt'smom...you said it best. That is how I feel, the instucters should be coming and making sure that the student is getting the experiences and making sure she is doing her work right. I am not a...
  8. NicuGal

    Pregnant and working as RN

    NicuGal replied to tcolleen's topic in General Nursing

    I worked up until I delivered....3 twelves in a row every week. But then I had 4 to recup :) Drink a ton of water and make sure you get a break to prop those tootsies up. I pushed a kid down to...
  9. NicuGal

    Lazy Student Nurse Preceptors!

    NicuGal replied to jfpruitt's topic in General Nursing

    I have to agree with emily's mom....who assigned this and where was your instructer? Did this instructor ever show up on the floor and check on you? First, I wouldn't get mouthy or confrontational...
  10. NicuGal

    "Floating" to other departments???

    NicuGal replied to jaxnRN's topic in General Nursing

    Our OB is a closed unit. They are self staffed. Before they were closed they floated to peds...which most of them hated. As for the weekend...welcome to nights LOL Your weekend is Saturday-Sunday I...
  11. NicuGal

    Radiant warmers

    NicuGal replied to trish2307's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We put hats on the kids, but we don't dress them, usually if they are on a warmer they warrant frequent watching anyways. The only ones that we dress are the really bad neuro kids that can't keep a...
  12. NicuGal

    Cocaine in breastmilk?

    NicuGal replied to NICU_Nurse's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Postive tox=no breastfeeding in our
  13. NicuGal

    To surf or not to surf...that is the question

    NicuGal posted a topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Inspired by a previous thread...do you surf everyone under a certain age, or do you wing it? It goes month to month with us. Everyone under 28weeks is a go, but the others they sometimes wait on....
  14. NicuGal

    RN floating as a CNA

    NicuGal replied to ohbet's topic in General Nursing

    Before we became closed only to Mat/Child, we would get sent to CCU, Burns, etc...and we would tell them we were functioning only as an CNA! None of us felt competent enough to take care of those...
  15. NicuGal

    PIE Charting

    NicuGal replied to Neon8's topic in General Nursing

    P: O2 requirement I: Weaned O2 today, increased Lasix dose. E: Tol well, no distress, PO greater than 95%. No s/s of CHF, had good output from increased Lasix. Cont to wean O2 as able, follow...
  16. NicuGal

    gavage feeds

    NicuGal replied to kmaryniak's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    MO....who makes your #5 silastics? I would love to get our unit manager to order those~!
  17. NicuGal

    gavage feeds

    NicuGal replied to kmaryniak's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    Interesting topic...I always find it amazing how different things are done in places. We mostly use #6fr silastics. We can leave them in for a month and then change them. We use 5fr on the smaller...
  18. NicuGal

    new grad icu orientations 6-8 wks- safe?

    NicuGal replied to scrubs12's topic in General Nursing

    Our orientation to NICU is 6-8 weeks. You have required reading to do at home that coincides with what you are doing on orientation. Then after 3 weeks, we turn you loose with just feeder assignment...
  19. NicuGal

    Bonus for extra shifts: what are your facilities doing for you?

    NicuGal replied to timonrn's topic in General Nursing

    Nope, no extra time bonuses here...and if it isn't over 40 hours, you work for straight time. And when we were so horribly short over the summers we found out that the regular floors and almost every...
  20. NicuGal

    What are your IV site change policies?

    NicuGal replied to baseline's topic in General Nursing

    We leave our IV's in as long as we can, we get orders after 72 hours. We don't change the dressings unless they need it. CVL's drsgs are changed Q72 hours, PICC lines we generally leave alone, but...
  21. NicuGal

    What Do You Want To Hear When Receiving Report?

    NicuGal replied to rebelwaclause's topic in General Nursing

    Just the essentials please...I don't want report for an hour on 3 kids...all that are feeders and growers! A critical vent or chronic kid, sure lay it on me, but forget all the other stuff. I have...
  22. NicuGal

    Holiday Decorations and Infection Control?

    NicuGal replied to NICU_Nurse's topic in NICU, Neonatal

    We have a tree by the main door..no lights. One of the girls at work decorates trees on the side and she always does a beautiful job. This year it is birds and flowers We put clings on the...
  23. NicuGal

    IV meds for Labor, what do you use?

    NicuGal replied to OBNurseShelley's topic in Ob/Gyn

    At our hospital the use mostly Demerol. In the NICU, we hate when they give Nubain...it seems that the mom goes complete quickly and we end up with the baby because it is
  24. NicuGal

    What pension/medical retirement benefits to you get?

    NicuGal replied to lee1's topic in General Nursing

    We are a county hospital and we are in the public retirement system. We are vested for full medical after 10 years.
  25. NicuGal

    What pension/medical retirement benefits to you get?

    NicuGal replied to lee1's topic in General Nursing

    We are a county hospital and we are in the public retirement system. We are vested for full medical after 10 years.