Today was a big day for this kid in the ICU. I signed up for 4 hours incentive, hoping simply to update my date. The charge nurse had another idea. She's an experienced nurse that I have a tremendous amount of respect for. So I trust her judgment, and don't often question anything she decides.
Well today, she decided to leave me alone to admit a severely septic patient. For those of you who don't live and breathe intensive care nursing, this means the patient has such a bad infection, that it affects their blood pressure, perfusion, and bleeding times. The orders the intensivists write span over 10 pages, and the goal is to get antibiotics in the patient within one hour of the order being written to improve outcomes. This, of course, is after the patient gets numerous IVs and lines placed, as well as lab cultures and labwork drawn. Not really an admit you give to the new kid, if you can help it.
However, I had my first septic patient a couple weeks ago. I had to have my hand held by our rapid response nurse, and generally just felt like I had no idea what I was doing. This time, I had nearly no help. I knew what I was doing and what I needed. I even helped the intensivist place lines all by myself. Which I've done before, but someone always stands in the corner to make sure I don't have any questions (Or to make sure the doctor doesn't completely eat me alive). This is such an amazing feeling. I love actually having a handle on such a difficult admit (I'm sure those around me don't mind that either).
I think it's awesome I was trusted enough to get such an admit. I think it's even better that things went well. I just might be critical care nurse yet.
