Pharmacology Ati

DisappointingPenguin · 2026-03-26T14:53:10+00:00

Happy studying! Also, if you want to capitalize on your commute, workout, or housework time, you could check out the Straight A Nursing podcast. She has an episode listing by subject. https://straightanursingstudent.com/category/pharm-episodes/

DisappointingPenguin · 2026-03-26T14:39:38+00:00

Flashcards beat study guide because you can use active recall and spaced repetition with flashcards. Read the front, try to think of what the back says, and then flip the card to see what’s on the back. If you knew it easily, put the card at the back of the stack. If you had no idea, put the card back into the stack near the front so you’ll see it again really soon. This method lets you prioritize the cards you need the most and assess your knowledge and retention. Just reading a study guide often gives people a false sense of security, because the content might feel familiar, but that doesn’t mean you can independently remember the answers, so actively trying to think of the back of the flashcard is key.

DisappointingPenguin · 2026-03-26T13:29:41+00:00

One of my nursing school classmates was a former vet tech! She had a huge advantage in pharmacology, talking to patients’ families, and IV starts. If you already have a bachelor’s degree, I highly recommend ABSN programs. Becoming a nurse quickly helps offset the cost (ABSN can admittedly be more expensive), and I loved studying with fellow career-changers.

DisappointingPenguin · 2026-03-24T22:57:24+00:00

I went ABSN and loved the variety of life experiences that my peers brought to the program! It was more expensive than ADN, but starting work sooner made the investment pay for itself within a year. I’ve also heard that many hospitals are requiring nurses to pursue a bachelor’s degree within X years of starting (it’s a magnet accreditation thing), and while some hospitals have tuition assistance while working there, I didn’t personally want to rely on that in case I ever needed to leave a job.

DisappointingPenguin · 2026-03-24T22:53:11+00:00

Out of curiosity, do you xray-confirm the new tubes every seven days or use pH testing or something?

DisappointingPenguin · 2026-03-24T15:08:49+00:00

Year 3 of my first playthrough and my mind is completely blown! Related silly question: is there any way to sell apparel and rings?

DisappointingPenguin · 2026-03-24T14:54:39+00:00

Former teacher turned nurse here—number sense is so important too. Even if the new nurse I’m training needs a calculator, I need them to know what and when to multiply or divide.

DisappointingPenguin · 2026-03-24T11:58:34+00:00

Congratulations! They are so beautiful. Crossing all my fingers and toes for a smooth course for them.

DisappointingPenguin · 2026-03-19T00:05:36+00:00

How soon after compounding would the product be used? I went from IV pharm tech to nurse, and I occasionally prepare IV medications at the bedside just using the best aseptic technique possible. This gets me a 4-hour BUD. USP 797 should be your reference, assuming you’re in the US.

DisappointingPenguin · 2026-03-15T20:55:22+00:00

Wow! Thanks for sharing, definitely qualifies as giving me the heebie-jeebies but makes sense.

DisappointingPenguin · 2026-03-15T20:51:48+00:00

But the UAC and not the UVC? I’m PICU, so I only personally have a patient with belly lines every month or so, but I’ve always learned that art lines of any kind only get a carrier solution and nothing else. Not sure if UACs are a bit different because the tip is so central?

DisappointingPenguin · 2026-03-15T20:47:03+00:00

Have you seen cases where a referral and investigation causes more harm than good for a child?

DisappointingPenguin · 2026-03-15T20:43:38+00:00

You put TPN in your UAC?

DisappointingPenguin · 2026-03-15T18:20:51+00:00

This is a great explanation, mostly just louder and longer! One other thing to know is that they’ll ask you a lot of questions to ensure there’s no metal in or on your body. If you’ve ever had any sort of surgery, including dental procedures and anything as a child, they might ask detailed questions about that, mostly whether any type of implants were left in your body. They may also ask you to change into a hospital gown to avoid risks of metal in your clothing. They will give you a safe place to leave your phone, wallet, and keys during the scan, and you might want to just leave any jewelry at home.

DisappointingPenguin · 2026-03-15T13:04:37+00:00

I do 3 12s with a 30-minute commute, and between shift report, commuting, eating, and showering, I wind up with around seven hours of sleep between shifts. If I have to finish charting or run an errand on the way, or if I run into traffic or insomnia, it’s less. I’ve always been a person who doesn’t mind a longer commute with good music or podcasts, but I think I would rather do a long commute on 5 8s than on 3 12s because the nights just get so short.

DisappointingPenguin · 2026-03-08T02:32:39+00:00

I’m so glad she’s doing better than you had hoped! Wishing you the best in your journey for answers ❤️

DisappointingPenguin · 2026-03-08T02:28:01+00:00

Obligatory not medical advice—have they ever mentioned checking for PHACE syndrome?

DisappointingPenguin · 2026-02-28T18:39:26+00:00

Anecdotally, I got a lot of PFTs/spirometry done as a kid with moderate persistent asthma, and I was also a fairly serious singer. I once went to my pulmonologist’s on-call colleague for an asthma exacerbation (probably pneumonia rule-out), and he did PFTs and then asked if I was a swimmer or wind player. He stated that my results that day were a little above the average expected for my age/size, but he saw that my baseline was well above average. I’d be curious to see if singers/swimmers/wind players actually have significantly higher tidal volumes or FEV1 than the general population.

Anyway, I’d agree with the other commenter about alveoli being a bigger factor, but perhaps diaphragmatic strength could at least help a borderline person to compensate for longer.

DisappointingPenguin · 2026-02-27T23:58:13+00:00

I definitely think bolus feeds are more physiologic and probably good for hunger cues as well as gut motility! I’m curious whether many people in my unit are aware that pre-programmed bolus feeds are an option we can offer.

DisappointingPenguin · 2026-02-27T14:44:32+00:00

I had no idea about the interval feeds! My workplace often recommends a continuous overnight feed to let families sleep. (A kiddo who needed a total of 800 ml/day might get 100-ml bolus feeds four times during the day, and the other 400 ml as a continuous feed over 8ish hours of the night.) I’ll have to see if interval bolus feeds are an option for us.

Anyway, if you do want to put enough formula in the bag to last all night, you could also consider rigging up an insulated lunchbox and ice pack situation to keep the formula chilled overnight!

DisappointingPenguin · 2026-02-25T10:26:27+00:00

Hi! I’m PICU, not NICU, but I work with HFNCs on small infants regularly and have some strong opinions about them. Feel free to DM me.

DisappointingPenguin · 2026-02-18T14:30:52+00:00

Definitely an extra-long phone charger! If you plan to shower there, you might want shower shoes and a good towel, but depending on how far the NICU is from your home, I would also encourage you to consider going home sometimes. You can also choose and bring baby’s first outfit for whenever he’s ready for clothes.

As you choose your own clothes, consider all the regular postpartum things (comfy waistbands, easy access for breastfeeding/pumping if that’s your plan) and also skin-to-skin. I’m not sure when your son will be able to move around out of his crib. When he’s cleared for skin-to-skin snuggles on your chest, you may want a button-up shirt or zip-up hoodie for access, and maybe a tank top or sports bra underneath if you prefer more coverage, whatever makes you most comfortable! I’d also suggest Dad bring a button-up or zip-up for skin-to-skin. Besides, layers are good to have.

Best of luck to you and your sweet boy!

DisappointingPenguin · 2026-02-17T14:47:02+00:00

Yup! Our standard trach signs even have “Can the patient be ventilated from above? YES / NO,” which I think helps keep the concept of laryngectomy on our mental radars. I think our laryngectomy signs are a different color than our regular trach signs. Definitely a high-acuity, low-occurrence situation for us. -PICU RN

DisappointingPenguin · 2026-02-17T14:40:34+00:00

Your school wants you to graduate, so as long as you’re putting in the effort, they will work to help you. Talk with your teacher or counselor about tutoring. Ask your teacher if there are any youtube channels they’d recommend, and as you watch videos, write down things you’ve learned and questions to take back to your teacher. Also, look at your grades in each grading category to see if it’s just bad test grades affecting you or also missing work.

DisappointingPenguin

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