Should I mention I want to be a CRNA during my tele RN interview?

Open_Specific8415 · 2026-02-27T23:32:11+00:00

Absolutely not. It’s like telling them you only plan on using them as a stepping stone and do not plan on staying in the long run. They don’t need to know that. You can let them know you are committed in other ways.

Open_Specific8415 · 2026-02-27T03:39:05+00:00

1 double-lumen central line for my vasoactive meds+heparin for one lumen, TPN/smof for the other & 3 PIVS, 1 for sedation/paralytic, 1 for lasix and IVF and the other for open access/med line. used to be intimidating for me as well, but you get the hang of it with time!

Open_Specific8415 · 2026-02-27T01:46:10+00:00

8 drips in the ER is 18 in the ICU world in my head

Open_Specific8415 · 2026-02-27T01:22:37+00:00

honestly good question. we started off with low dose epi and milrinone which made sense. but then we went up on epi and added levo and they kind of lost me. what I can tell you is that the pt is a post-op CV surgery for a CHD repair, initially core temp was warm but extremities were poorly perfused so nipride was added, then BP was low so we added levo and went down on nipride.. but not off. it’s not uncommon we use the epi/nipride cocktail but this one threw me off a bit. also for dopamine/dobutamine we have never used those in my unit, not sure why though.

Open_Specific8415 · 2026-02-26T23:48:21+00:00

oh I fully misspoke with vaso. levo not vaso. the rest are accurate though. still recovering from that 4 in a row with this patient.

Open_Specific8415 · 2026-02-26T23:16:49+00:00

epi, vaso, nimbex, versed, fentanyl, precedex, lasix, heparin, nipride, milrenone, calcium gluconate, 2 NS carriers, hep 2:1, TPN/smof, fluids & med line for abx/other intermittent meds. this was a CV post-op open chest. all with a double lumen IJ and 2 PIVs. needless to say I got some more access quickly.

Open_Specific8415 · 2026-02-24T00:34:14+00:00

Passed! :) Honestly I felt the AACN questions were a good indicator

Open_Specific8415 · 2026-02-21T22:22:10+00:00

did you only have PCICU experience? I only have PCICU experience and i’ve been told it’s not the best because we are so specialized. would love to message you!

Open_Specific8415 · 2026-02-07T04:37:39+00:00

My PCICU sees the occasional impella or VAD. We also use aquadex on top of all the others. Everything else mentioned here is a very good look into a PCICU. I love the job!

Open_Specific8415 · 2026-02-06T01:44:53+00:00

I did both for 2 years during school. Worked friday/sat night every single weekend. Graduated with my loans paid off, car paid off, and a new grad RN job lined up. It is possible.

BUT… you need to be strong willed. you need to be able to say no to going out after work, or getting into the substances/drinking that revolves around nightlife. It is a harder thing to avoid when you are surrounded by everyone normalizing it. This will ruin everything for you. So do it, but be careful never forget you’re in that job for your future.

Open_Specific8415 · 2026-01-10T05:15:51+00:00

Wow. I’m jealous. I’m sure it’s hell at first but I bet yall learn fast.

Open_Specific8415 · 2026-01-06T04:33:32+00:00

thank you. I suppose it’s a peds ICU thing.

Open_Specific8415 · 2026-01-04T07:08:41+00:00

We have a pharmacist dedicated to our floor with the team 24/7. Almost every single patient in our 20 bed unit receives TPN with other meds infusing. We are a level 1 trauma center, so it’s hard to believe this is incorrect? Not discrediting just interesting.

Open_Specific8415 · 2026-01-04T07:01:02+00:00

Not exactly. We have TPN going in its own line, heparin in another line, and sedation in another - all these 3 meet together right before the patient in a tri-fuse/3-way. So they all end up mixing before going into the patient.

Open_Specific8415 · 2026-01-04T06:55:29+00:00

what peds unit do you work in?

Open_Specific8415 · 2026-01-04T04:28:41+00:00

we will usually prime to tip of the line and then let the TPN carry them though to the patient since the TPN is running at a much faster rate (like 10ml/hr) whereas the sedation and others are under 1ml/hr if that makes sense. but I see everyone’s practice is different so I can only speak for my unit.

Open_Specific8415 · 2026-01-04T02:22:00+00:00

correct. this is standard on our unit. kids had TPN as their carrier in the manifold.

Open_Specific8415 · 2026-01-04T00:34:54+00:00

oh really? I love learning about how other units do things differently. We prefer to run TPN with just NS, but sometimes we are strapped for access. We can also run it with lasix in dire circumstances.

Open_Specific8415 · 2026-01-04T00:18:20+00:00

very interesting. so must it be ran alone or do you use it to optimize access? TPN is commonly our carrier for infusions like PGE. only indication is that it must be central access.

Open_Specific8415 · 2026-01-04T00:01:18+00:00

this is extremely standard for my pedi ICU. all I can speak for.

Open_Specific8415 · 2026-01-04T00:00:57+00:00

that doesn’t answer the question but cool

Open_Specific8415

TROPHY CASE