CocoaGirl

Latest Activity

1. Anyone have their CDN?

   CocoaGirl replied to mxems's topic in Urology

   I had my CNN for several years, but decided it was too time consuming & expensive to maintain the 60 CEU's. There is no reimbursment from my employer for seminars, journals etc. & It is hard to find free CEU'S related to nephrology. There ...

2. FMC staffing policies

   CocoaGirl replied to Reneec's topic in Urology

   I feel that the staff RN(s) get the short end of the stick, so to speak, especially if you are the only nurse beside the clinical mgr. The RN is required to fill in for the PCT when they are off, but if the CM can't fill in for you then you can't h...

3. Blood and Dialysis

   CocoaGirl replied to TE21's topic in Urology

   If you are employed by FMC you are not allowed to transfuse in the outpatient clinic. This is a HUGE issue for our patients because they have to go to the lab to have a T&CM drawn (another needle stick). The patient will have to go the next day...

4. Another non-profit, hospital-owned dialysis dinosaur, eaten by the Corporate Big Dogs

   CocoaGirl replied to Guttercat's topic in Urology

   I have always been curious WHY FMC is not considered a Monopoly in the industry. FMC has the market in its back pocket since it manufactures their own machines, dialyzers, saline. They own Phoslo, Venofer & want us to push our patients to utili...

5. What does the RN do all day?

   CocoaGirl replied to nolamomx2's topic in Urology

   I can't say you will be on your feet all day, but it will be 95% of the time (unless you are lucky to get a pee break or a lunch). The RN does pre & post nursing assessments on all patients, administers all meds, sets up & tears down machine...

6. Fresinius taking over

   CocoaGirl replied to Cougarstheta's topic in Urology

   I have been through a Fresenius acquisition, our unit was private & was bought out by FMC. It was a nightmare and still is, be prepared that staff who quit will not be replaced. Almost all of our support staff were let go: HR, unit clerk, rece...

7. Things that nurses say that may seem inappropriate to lay people

   CocoaGirl replied to NurseLoveJoy88's topic in General Nursing

   Telling someone their patient is "Tachy". That usually gets a look or two.

8. Difference in Acute and Chronic

   CocoaGirl replied to BernieRN's topic in Urology

   FMC is famous for not being totally up front with potential employees about hours, traveling & training. Only certain facilities are training facilities & if you are hired for a different facility you WILL have to travel to the training faci...

9. RN dialysis positions...I must be missing something...

   CocoaGirl replied to Marshall1's topic in Urology

   Yep......the extra day(s) off is so not worth it because of the ridiculous hours that we work. I would really love to do the ten hour shifts I was hired for.

10. How long is your shift?

    CocoaGirl replied to MJB2010's topic in Urology

    Sounds like we work for the same company. I know what you mean about having two 30 min breaks deducted when you don't even get to take one break. These hours are killer, I couldn't do two days in a row.

11. How long is your shift?

    CocoaGirl replied to MJB2010's topic in Urology

    We work 13-15 hour shifts Mon, Wed & Fri. The days are very long, non-stop & there is no such thing as a 30 minute lunch break. (Even though the company knows we can't take longer than 10 mins) we still get 30 mins deducted. I could not do...

12. foot stools, foot rests on dialysis chairs

    CocoaGirl replied to anurseadvocate's topic in Urology

    The foot rests were removed last week & the patients do NOT like it at all. Our patients can't push themselves back in their chairs, their legs dangle and it is just uncomfortable for them. Each patient was given a memo that was written by corpor...

13. foot stools, foot rests on dialysis chairs

    CocoaGirl replied to anurseadvocate's topic in Urology

    The footrests in our area will be removed by technical ASAP according to the latest memo. Each unit will have to purchase "portable" foot stools for staff to tote around for each pt to use to get into their chair. I don't believe that they will be ...

14. C-Diff & infection control

    CocoaGirl posted a topic in Urology

    Are there any infection control recommendations for caring for a C-Diff positive patient in the chronic setting? Our unit has an alert & oriented nursing home resident who is obese & requires a hoyer lift to transfer into & out of the dia...

15. FMC - taking pillows out of all units?

    CocoaGirl replied to anurseadvocate's topic in Urology

    Management did away with our pillows & cases (our pillows were only 1 yr old & in excellent shape). The clinical manager put out a memo to each pt about the pillows being an "infection control issue" and they are to now provide their own pill...