Fmc

Specialties Urology

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Does anyone know about the FMC 'open house' that the units are going to be having this coming week? I have heard, from several, that numerous states (Louisiana, California, for example) will be having open houses? Also, what happens at an open house and does the patient have to sign any kind of paper for it? Thanks.

Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.
I thought I had read whereby a patient requested a certain staff, due to better sticker, that it was part of ultra care to comply with request. thx.

Nope.. not anywhere stated in Ultra Care. Nor does it benefit the patient OR the staff. Just as leeleigh stated above.

If one patient can request this, what's to stop the others from doing the same? And where does that lead? We have to have some cohesion in running these txs. and the timing of them due to appt. times, etc. What if 12 pts. all prefer the same "sticker" ? What if just a FEW prefer one sticker? What if that staff member is already busy cannulating her patients, she can't just tell her own patinets to hold, and go run over to the other to stick him/her. And to "permanently" request one staff member won't get it either, because this same staff member must rotate and cannulate others as well.. not to mention she has days off (is she supposed to not take time off wher that particular patient is dialyzing? What about her vacations, etc?) Surely you can see how this is so NOT feesilble?

It just does NOT work that way.. cannot, nor will a clinic allow it. Upon OCCASION.. if one staffmember is having difficulty sticking a patient for some reason, that staff will of her own volition ask another staff to come over and give it a shot.. as we do not wish to cause our patients harm or pain.. or damage their access. We all do this from time to time. That's FINE.

I remember having one lady I had the absolute hardest time with.. I dreaded seeing her walk through the door when she was on my "side".. and I know she felt the sameway ! :uhoh21:

But after about a month of not giving up and continuously working with her as often as I could, I figured out her "stick".. it was just a "wierd" one, all there is to it. Ever since then I have never had a problem cannulating her.. ever. Right in, smooth as silk.

There was another lady who had scarring in her access, and it was like you needed a maulhammer to get it cannulated. She asked for one specific nurse who had it downpat... all the others (including our clinical mgr.) had difficulties with it. It was politely explained to her by our clinical mgr. that we simply could not accomodate her in her request, as it would throw off everyone's schedule.. that we have to have some sort of routine or it throws everything else off. Not only that, but it is not fair to that nurse to always have this patient to stick as well. It works both ways. The "favoritism" scenario is NOT one you ever wish to propagate.. it serves noone.

By the way.. we now are ALL able to stick this patient I mentioned above. That benefits ALL. :)

There was another lady who had scarring in her access, and it was like you needed a maulhammer to get it cannulated. She asked for one specific nurse who had it downpat... all the others (including our clinical mgr.) had difficulties with it.

I also have a heavily scarred access-- mine is almost 9 years old. There are a few nurses who infiltrate me and/or give me three or four needles every time they try to hook me up. It's quit scary to have an access this old be stuck by people who have trouble with it! Thankfully the nurses who have a problem call for help and someone who can stick me comes over to reposition the needle. A patient wanting a specific sticker isn't always due to crankiness... sometimes it's because she's scared of losing her access from one too many infiltrations. I have never refused to have someone hook me up... but it's frustrating to keep giving people 'second chances' and never have them improve.

Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.

I also have a heavily scarred access-- mine is almost 9 years old. There are a few nurses who infiltrate me and/or give me three or four needles every time they try to hook me up. It's quit scary to have an access this old be stuck by people who have trouble with it! Thankfully the nurses who have a problem call for help and someone who can stick me comes over to reposition the needle. A patient wanting a specific sticker isn't always due to crankiness... sometimes it's because she's scared of losing her access from one too many infiltrations. I have never refused to have someone hook me up... but it's frustrating to keep giving people 'second chances' and never have them improve.

I fully understand. :kiss

We're always really good about asking a coworker to come over if we feel we are running into problems.. BEFORE we have to pull it and try again. That's fine, and we all work together well that way.. we certainly want what's best for the patient. But it's best done that way.. we just can't be playing the "favorites" game, is basically what I'm saying. That would get out of hand real fast.

Those who are having difficulty should be over there watching and learning from the one who IS able to stick your access . That's what we do.. ask questions.. how deep? How shallow? Does the needle need to go to the right/ left? Etc.etc.

Have the good "sticker" advise the others on just how to best cannulate your access. :)

Teamwork ! Teamwork !!! :D

Can anyone tell me if FMC is Fresenius Medical Care. I have an interest in Dialysis but am not sure what company is best to work for. Can anyone tell me? I am looking in the Georgia area. I understand Gambro was bought out by Davita.

Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.
Can anyone tell me if FMC is Fresenius Medical Care. I have an interest in Dialysis but am not sure what company is best to work for. Can anyone tell me? I am looking in the Georgia area. I understand Gambro was bought out by Davita.

Yes. FMC = Fresenius Medical Care.

Davita is decent to work for, I hear, and Renal Care Group (RCG) is supposedly excellent to work for as well. :)

Here's my :twocents:

I really like Renal Care Group, but not FMC. I have no experience w/ Gambro or DeVita. And yes, DaVita did buy Gambro.

It's pretty ironic that I would come across this thread today. I am a new RN to FMC and I also thought it was weird that they would have an open house with clients on the dialysis machines. I was also trying to figure out why we dont get a raise after 6 months of working like most places offer. I was also surprised that the annual raise I was told about was only 3%. In Ventura, CA that barely covers the cost of living. So you are telling me that the annual raise used to be higher? That really sucks. I was kinda excited about trying out dialysis but it's really leaving a bad taste in my mouth about how slowly the raises will be coming especially since why are told about how important it is to save the company money any which way we can. Maybe I should just move on.

THEN, I saw something about another subpeona. What the heck is that about?

This is quite interesting since I just interviewed for a position with FMC. But something told me I needed more information before accepting a position with them. They seemed to be the only dialysis company in the area looking for RNS. I think I had better keep looking and give this some more thought.

It's pretty ironic that I would come across this thread today. I am a new RN to FMC and I also thought it was weird that they would have an open house with clients on the dialysis machines. I was also trying to figure out why we dont get a raise after 6 months of working like most places offer. I was also surprised that the annual raise I was told about was only 3%. In Ventura, CA that barely covers the cost of living. So you are telling me that the annual raise used to be higher? That really sucks. I was kinda excited about trying out dialysis but it's really leaving a bad taste in my mouth about how slowly the raises will be coming especially since why are told about how important it is to save the company money any which way we can. Maybe I should just move on.

THEN, I saw something about another subpeona. What the heck is that about?[/quote\\\

Every one of the big dialysis companies have been subpeonaed. Several times.

The DOJ wants to know about something and so it subpeonas these companies.

As for Davita buying Gambro. That is not a fait accompli. Davita hasn't signed on the dotted line yet. Will it go through.. probably. Not a total given yet.

Why are they having to deal with courts....what did they do?

This is quite interesting since I just interviewed for a position with FMC. But something told me I needed more information before accepting a position with them. They seemed to be the only dialysis company in the area looking for RNS. I think I had better keep looking and give this some more thought.

Where did you interview? how many years experience do you have as an RN? What would have been your starting salary? Mine was 22

Why are they having to deal with courts....what did they do?

Some paper work had been shredded. And the government wants to be sure they are keeping every piece..All of them got subpeonaed earlier this year on a reimbursement issue of PTH's and Zemplar, Hecterol and Calcijex.

ESRD is the only chronic illness totally funded by Medicare and these companies/clinics have to jump through hoops to get their money.

Ya know the government.... :rotfl:

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