Someone I know was describing a procedure in which a tube was placed through a patient's back into their kidneys to drain their urine. I had never heard of this before. What is this called? A nephrostomy tube. Check out a quick summary of what it is and its indications.
I feel like when working in the hospital, we come into contact with patients with peripheral neuropathy all the time! Patients with uncontrolled diabetes very commonly have issues with this. What are other causes of peripheral neuropathy and how do we treat it?
Very rarely do we see patients presenting with the symptoms of myxedema coma. This is a life threatening condition that is caused by a deficiency in the thyroid gland causing hypothyroidism. Let's learn a little bit more about this rare condition!
Have you heard of the hyperbaric chamber? This unique type of oxygen treatment helps patients with a variety of medical issues. See a quick breakdown of how it helps patients from an ICU RN.
It is important to know the differences between ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. What nursing interventions would you perform for these and how would they vary? Learn about these strokes from an ICU RN.
The Whipple procedure is one of great intensity. Surgeons remove part of the pancreas, stomach, small intestine, gall bladder, and even lymph nodes. Why would such an invasive procedure need to be performed? Check out a simple explanation from an ICU RN.
Giving insulin IV is a lifesaving measure for patients experiencing diabetic ketoacidosis or hyperkalemia. Monitoring these patients closely is essential to safe treatment. Learn the basics about IV insulin from an ICU RN.
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is very real and can be fatal in some individuals if left untreated. Learn the how to manage patients with alcohol withdrawal or delirium tremens (DTs) from an ICU RN.
Have you heard the term "ARDS" before? These patients are the sickest of the sick! I feel like it's pretty informative about ARDS including its causes and treatments.
Hepatitis is a common viral infection in the hospital population, especially with liver failure patients. There are a variety of strains of hepatitis, some acute and some chronic in nature. The most common type that I have seen in the ICU is Hepatitis C with chronic liver disease patients. When patients are in the ICU, their liver failure is generally very advanced requiring more palliative treatment. What causes this destruction of the liver? How do we prevent this from happening?
