sissib

they are probably checking Hep B titer. Have you had the HepB vaccine series? Did you sign a consent for them to draw your blood?

Most places you do not have to "give up" your license to work as a tech. I would try other facilities. I assume if you work as a tech for over 1 yr your LPN license would become inactive unless you take a part time job as LPN in addition to dialysis tech. Techs usually do water room opening and closing duties, preparing machines, preparing patients for treatment, start pt tx's, monitor pt BP Q 30 min, return pt blood post tx vs. ++++ many more duties.

Some pt's we would recommend they not take their BP meds on day of dialysis if they always come in with low BP. Our Dr's wrote standing orders to do that. I would not send anyone home with BP

This is certainly not what families need to be going through. I am starting my first HH private duty position next month with agency that does mostly peds. I have noticed about every 3 months they are begging for staff. Give me a schedule and I will work it and not call in if I am dead.

Yes, speak to your supervisor. Most HH co's will assist families with getting room AC just for the patient. That must me hard on the patient also. If pt is ill enough to require private duty nurse, then needs AC during hot summer months. Just sayin

Keep in mind the new federal reg's for incenter chronic hemodialysis. That will now drive the "$ meaning more than Pt care" that is now happening all over the country now. Some units are encouraging pts to go home hemo, because the dialysis centers can make more profit. I worked in a non profit facility and they were even talking to pts about home hemo. They are now dialyzing more pts than ever in their history. I love dialysis and plan on traveling someday and hope there is still a market for that. If you like dialysis, just hang in there and see what happens, go with the flow. Jobs are not a plentiful as it may seem.

The best advice I can give is stay there and tough it out. In this economy all other nursing jobs are so stressed out, feel like they are pulled in 10 directions at once. You have your whole career in front of you and this could lead to something a lot more interesting than you may see right now. Hang in there and keep doing a fabulous job!

I feel for you. I worked in a Nonprofit facility. 28 pts, 4 rn/lpn's and 6 techs. There would also be a charge nurse to answer the phone and sit on her butt. I would have at least 2 UTI's per year. We did get our breaks and then if we got a chance we would run back to break room to take a drink or to bathroom. ONE bathroom for staff, that includes 3 biomed staff, usually a line waiting to get into br. Management won't even listen to complaints at all. I love dialysis but sounds as if they are all the same, with lots of problems and risks to our licenses. I am thinking about traveling that way I don't have to be in anyplace long enough to put up with the downside of dialysis.

How important pt compliance is with diet, fluid restriction, and taking their meds as directed.

The best time to eat is not while on the dialysis machine. Some of pt's blood is in the bloodlines, while eating, a lot of blood goes to digestive system. That leaves brain and heart:redbeathe short of blood, then blood pressures drop to dangerous levels.

I need advise from seasoned nursing management regarding how to answer the dreaded question of, "Why were you terminated from your last job?" Grad LPN 2006 first job in skilled nursing facility, I was usually employed in hospitals and clinics before nursing school. Terminated by new DON, her first DON job, along with 2 other nurses. The reasons given were nitpicky and I had never been wrote up for any offense in the 2 years I worked there. Attendance was excellent, I attended all mandatory meetings, active in improvement projects to better the facility. I have interview today at a wonderful rural clinic, cut in pay, but benefits are 98% better and no weird hours, not responsible for 28-45 residents per shift. This is really more fitted to my experience than LTC. Be honest in responses, I really appreciate constructive responses! Thanks, Linda