The newest and coolest thing you've ever done

[Christy1019, ASN, RN]

Another popular thread titled "Oldie but goodie" inspired this post. Being a nurse with only 6yrs experience, I unfortunately don't have any great stories of the way things used to be done. However, I have been a part of some pretty cool, newer innovations and am curious what others have had the opportunity to take part in.

I remember working with the newer Heartware LVADs when they were still pending FDA approval, and thinking how cool it was that they plugged into the wall or a cigarette lighter, the first time I had a pt have a balloon pump inserted, and using an Alsius machine for therapeutic hypothermia and to treat a hypothermic trauma pt.

What great stories do you all have?

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

I worked on the drug trials for prostaglandin E1 - used to maintain a patent ductus in children with cyanotic heart defects. Until then, these children just died.

I was also the first person in Chicago to get Rhogam prenatally.

[NOADLS]

Found a good spot to hide and play candycrush.

[amoLucia]

To OP - I was impressed when suction canisters could be wall-mounted! Like whoppee - wall vacuum. May GOMCO rest in peace!

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Remember three glass bottles on the floor for a chest tube? OY!

[calivianya, BSN, RN]

I had my first therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest patient the other day. I had them at the end of maintenance and the entire rewarming phase, so I missed all the q15 minute craziness but it was still really interesting. My lady was super stable, though - I saw like a 10-second run of SVT but that was the only interesting thing she did all night. I didn't even get to see any fun electrolyte abnormalities during rewarming. My coworker during the cooling phase got all of that.

I can't even imagine how they used to do therapeutic hypothermia... how did you keep a patient's temperature stable at a certain level before these blankets that automatically warm/cool to maintain a certain body temp? Did you just check a temp every fifteen minutes and add ice or heat or what? I'm really curious. It seems like it would be really complicated without these automatic blankets.

[kiszi, RN]

Wound vacs with foam instead of gauze. Wound vacs period.

Pleur-x catheters--for those who may not be familiar, it is a small bore tube surgically implanted in either the abdomen or pleural cavity enabling pts with chronic ascites or pleural effusion to drain fluid periodically at home. It uses one-time-use vacuum bottles and is really the coolest thing ever.

[Muser69]

I had my first therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest patient the other day. I had them at the end of maintenance and the entire rewarming phase, so I missed all the q15 minute craziness but it was still really interesting. My lady was super stable, though - I saw like a 10-second run of SVT but that was the only interesting thing she did all night. I didn't even get to see any fun electrolyte abnormalities during rewarming. My coworker during the cooling phase got all of that.

I can't even imagine how they used to do therapeutic hypothermia... how did you keep a patient's temperature stable at a certain level before these blankets that automatically warm/cool to maintain a certain body temp? Did you just check a temp every fifteen minutes and add ice or heat or what? I'm really curious. It seems like it would be really complicated without these automatic blankets.

Therapeutic hypothermia is relatively new, but cooling/ warming blankets have been around forever.

[RNperdiem, RN]

I remember the awe of beds that do percussion/vibration, rotate and can do a seat deflate. We have come a long way from the hand-cranked beds.

[amoLucia]

I remember the awe of beds that do percussion/vibration, rotate and can do a seat deflate. We have come a long way from the hand-cranked beds.

Lots of old crank-type beds still in LTC if any young newbie wants to see ancient history alive & well still.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Found a good spot to hide and play candycrush.

Seriously? At first this was amusing.....I am no longer amused.

Have you done NOTHING of scientific interest in your career?

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I remember clinical trials for the chest tube autologus transfusions.

I remember the first closed chest tube drainage system I ever saw it was wonderful to not have those blasted bottles on the floor