sissib

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...

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 ...

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 ...

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 c...

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 l...

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...

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 le...

Try a non profit unit. The one I work in used to be pretty bad, but all new management has got us up to full staff. One Rn per 7 pts and one tech or lpn with the rn, then we usually have a float tech or lpn between 2 teams. All our patients get on tr...

Dialysis is all this and more. Especially LPN. You will need your nursing skills and tech skills too. I too was LPN only 2 years when I went to dialysis and I do not regret one day I spend there. Sure there will be days from ____, but those are every...

Yes, we had one pt that kept messing with her needles while on tx causing her to bleed all over, we documented verrrryyyyy well and the doc had her sent to psych for 96 hr hold and then she was not allowed to come back. She went to the other unit in ...

Do any of you know if dialysis units hire LPN's? there is a Fresenius unit close to my home applied today. I have 2 yrs LPN experience in LTC but would like something more technical.

Yep, the rolling coolers are great. They would fill them with ice from our ice machine until the machine "broke". No ice machine for 6 months and they are complaining, "when will we get our ice machine back?". They think we are a full service restaur...

I love your response, GeauxNursing! We have a guy who brings his roll up camping mattress to put in the chair, luck has it his loyal wife has to carry it in and out and roll it up. Next, they will bring their whole bedrooms and fridges. lol, thanks f...

I am LPN in dialysis for 8 months. We do everything RN does except IV push meds (state regulation). And then we also do everything the techs do too. I think all this differs at each facility. Just ask about these things when interviewing if you do no...

Thanks, Delana, for your reply. Our managment staff seems to have problems too. I have seen 3 nurse managers and 2 clinical directors and last administrator leave in 7 months. I love dialysis the pt to nurse relationships and the technical aspects. C...

Sounds very typical for a dialysis unit. I see a lot of information on this specialty of techs running the unit. We have no unit clerk or janitor and our cleaning crew will not empty the hazardous trash. I am an LPN in dialysis 7 months and am still ...

I have gone thru similar situation x2 at same facility. I felt I was set up but they could not prove where the meds were taken. The RN who counted with me took home a 1/2 full bottle of Roxanol and went on a week vacation. I never saw or heard what ...

After working in both, I will take dialysis anyday! We are busy all day and not always crazy but dialysis can keep you on your toes. Those patients can go bad very fast. Your nursing assessment skills and IV skills will be the ones you will use the m...

I had a similar situation, I was honest at all interviews but not specific about the details, they don't need details and most do not want details. I told them I was fired without any sort of formal warning to give me a chance to correct the action. ...

You are normal, don't give up yet, ask your manager if you can switch mentors before you decide you can't do this. I have a great trainer and have had a couple others fill in on her days off. There is a difference. Get your quality in threading and p...

Sounds like a lot of undercurrent with upper management there that is not visible to staff. Good luck, but not all facilities are that bad. We got new DON and so far she fired one nurse, cause she did not like her, she tried to set her up but the nur...