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.
I had never taken care of anyone younger than 12 - until I just went to a rapid response that turned into a code blue for an infant. It was different, but definitely ten million times easier than doing compressions on a 500-pounder. It's almost enough to make me want to work NICU.
It took me awhile to learn how to get it just right. The IVs I was trained on were bigger but more flexible. They didn't have the autoguard feature but it was pretty easy to hold pressure till you got the j-loop attached. Then we switched to a smaller IV that was not as flexible and it took me months to master how to hold just right to prevent blood going everywhere. They were awful but easier to manipulate due to the smaller size.
I love FEIBA--the labs normalize in minutes and I hear the patients have great outcomes, without fluid overloading like plasma does. We first used FEIBA just for new generation anticoagulants but now we use it for Coumadin bleeds as well.
Low tech but amazing--our ER revamped our sepsis protocol and we do a bazillion more lactates than we used to, helping us to find more sepsis and treat it much earlier and more aggressively.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I was trained by my hospital to put IV lines in by ultrasound guidance within my first year of practice. Not all too complicated, but it might come in pretty useful if I ever decide to take an advanced practice role in my career
Nurses use this device at the bedside all the time. It is common in some facilities and also used for PICC lines.
Specializes in Emergency/Trauma/Critical Care Nursing.
Thanks for downplaying something I'm proud of Esme. You're a real pal
I don't think that she was doing that at all. She was saying that in other facilities you may get to use it or see it more frequently, plus if you decided to become a PICC line nurse your skill would be helpful. I have never seen Esme be disrespectful or shoot people down on here, give her a little credit.
Not something I have done, but rather something I've learnt. Sildenafil, aka Viagra, can be used to treat pulmonary hypertension. I haven't had to give it to a patient for this yet. Boy, will that be something when I tell a patient guess what, the doctor prescribed Viagra. And I can only imagine what can happen when I educate patients (male patients especially) on the side effects.
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Not something I have done but rather something I've learnt. Sildenafil, aka Viagra, can be used to treat pulmonary hypertension. I haven't had to give it to a patient for this yet. Boy, will that be something when I tell a patient guess what, the doctor prescribed Viagra. And I can only imagine what can happen when I educate patients (male patients especially) on the side effects.[/quote']
LisalaRN99, BSN, RN
159 Posts
Assisting with Electroconvulsive Therapy....not new but new to my facility.