thomstew

Latest Activity

1. what is it like for other acute nurse

   thomstew replied to tracl's topic in Urology

   We have 11 RNs no techs. We cover 5 hospitals. All of our HD runs are at the pts bedside. No primary care, no meds etc. We do HD, PD, CRRT, TPE. All of us work 3 , 12hr shifts but basically work till its done. One RN on call every night so about 3 ca...

2. Anyone here in a "nursing couple"?

   thomstew replied to heartlover07's topic in General Nursing

   My husband and I are both RNs. We've been in nursing 20yrs each. We've been married 9 yrs. He works nights 7p-7a and I work days. We love it. No daycare. My husb would never switch to days. We have plenty of time togethers since we just work 3 days. ...

3. TPE plasmapheresis access question.

   thomstew replied to thomstew's topic in Urology

   As I said a girl I work with told me this. It makes no sense to me for all the reasons you stated. Plus there is no policy even on this. This isn't the only thing she's said that I really question the validity of... I just thought I would do some res...

4. TPE plasmapheresis access question.

   thomstew posted a topic in Urology

   Has anyone ever done a plasmapheresis at the same time as a CRRT is running, using the same access catheter just putting 4 way stopcocks on each port -access and return lines? Another dialysis nurse told me this was being done in other parts of the ...

5. How much did you start as a nurse and when.

   thomstew replied to ZASHAGALKA's topic in General Nursing

   I started at $7.50 an hour in 1988 as an LPN. I got a raise to 12.50 an hour in 1992 when I became an RN.

6. Does anyone know a Nephrology CNS?

   thomstew replied to thomstew's topic in Urology

   Thanks for the info. And yes I am very young, 41!! Lots of years left to work.

7. Does anyone know a Nephrology CNS?

   thomstew posted a topic in Urology

   I love dialysis and I'm thinking about my future. I don't know any CNS/NPs with a renal specialty in this area? Does anyone know about schools that have renal programs for NPs?

8. Searching for Nephrology NP program?

   thomstew posted a topic in NP

   I am an acute dialysis nurse. I want to become a nurse practitioner and stay in nephrology. Does anyone know about a program anywhere in the US that does this speciality? Thanks in advance.

9. Stress/Health Management Reading Room:

   thomstew replied to SmilingBluEyes's topic in Stress 101

   I'm definately going to get the book about stress and anger. I have spent so many years getting angry instead of being hurt. I didn't realize until last year how much that anger has taken our of me. I kind of emploded and have spent the last 10months...

10. New to Dialysis-feeling discouraged

    thomstew replied to WyndDrivenRain's topic in Urology

    It's no joke that it takes a year to feel confident with your dialysis skills. I was sick to my stomach everyday for the first 6 months. I was so scared I would hurt someone. I had been an acute RN for 16 years on Med/Surg when I came to dialysis. Th...

11. How much do you make?

    thomstew replied to plumrn's topic in General Nursing

    RN 11 yrs Ortho/chg nsg/noc Boise $28.

12. calcium citrate

    thomstew replied to ageless's topic in Urology

    We use citrate for anticoagulation during TPE treatments (plasmapheresis). Also sometimes use it in the ICU with CRRT's and q1h labs. I asked around about citrate during hemo and apparently our unit hasn't used it for years. But I believe there is so...