BoredLPN

I use to work in a large chronic unit...48 stations. Its craaazzy. In/out.....very stressful and I felt pressured to get them off and put the next one on. Ratios are 4 pts to 1 tech...12 pts to 1 nurse 4 shifts of patients. Very hectic. I transfered to acute...much better 2 pt to 1 nurse or 5 pts to two nurses. If you get sent to the unit (med surg, tele, ICU, etc...) its 1 on 1.

30/hr?? for travelers? I had the assumption travelers where getting more. I guess not then.

I came from peds mainly orthopedic peds. I guess it all depends chronic/acute and who (company) you are gonna work for. Been in the chronic unit for little over a month and its a high pace kinda of work. I find it really difficuilt to give 100% to patients. Everything is "rushed". Very high pace. I like the nature of the job, but its the way how management schedule patients. They seem to care more about the number of patients they wanna dialyze instead of the quailty of care we should give them. Again other facilities might function differently.

Thats why I scratched my head when I started in dailysis. Techs draws up heparin, puts it in the pump, and also give the initial bolus when they canulate!!! It gets better...they prep "packs" for the next few shifts and draw up heparin, label it and put it in the pt's pack. My trainer says its okay cause they are under the supervision of RNs. Thats 4 RNs for 48 stations and alteast 14 techs..a few of the techs are LPNs including me but are considered techs...but LPNs get paid a little more. Again I wouldn't want to be a RN in chronic unit at this facility.

In my facitly (chronics) I do pretty much everything like the "techs" and a little of what the RN do. With some few expceptions like I access caths, dressing changes, mix baths, and heres the good part they pay me as a licensed but I don't give meds..the RNs do that!!! I must say Dialysis is not for the weak. Dialysis is a high pace work...the company only cares of the quantity of patients not the quality of care we suppose to give.

I would never work as an RN in dialysis chronic unit. Not worth it IMHO. In my state HI and facility I work in...the techs give hep, NS, pretty much do everything except meds.

Yup stone age lol. I hope that new hopital falls through...not only for job oppurtunities but for the community's sake!!

I tape accross the wing. Then "chevron" tape, lastly gauze over the insertion site with tape over it.

LPNs 19-22/hour here in HI

I just started into this field...4 weeks. Just got done with "clinicals" and classroom work. I am in a Chronic Unit of 48 stations. Ratios are 1:3 or when their short it goes to 1:4. I noticed 80% of them are "techs". They are resposible for set up/tear down, testing, pre/post assessments, sticking and removing of needles, (except caths) giving NS/Heparin and starting the dialysis. They have maybe 5% LPNs who typcially do the same as the "techs" except they access caths and give IV/injection meds but if we are bussy, which 100% of the time we are, the RNs will go around giving meds. 15% of them are RNs which are "team leaders" Its a very very busy clinic. It appears that they all care about doing is how much patients they can, crunch in to get $$$.. 4 turnovers from 6am to midnight. Its like a factory, assembly line type of work. I see a lot of short cuts and for "techs" doing that??!!! I be kind of weary to send a love one there. Since I am new I just do what is best for me and the patient. Plus they say "we are under the supervision of an RN". Is this the norm in this field? I really like this field but just the set up gets me nervous. I won't be in chronic to long...the manager is shipping me out to acutes...

okay I got this response from EC: Hello, Thank you for contacting Excelsior College. Excelsior College scores exams on an IRT Method of grading. The exam questions are weighted, given a point value based on their degree of difficulty. Your total score is based on a cumulative or numeric score. You will be issued a letter grade and the correspondeng awarded credit. Sincerely, I guess I can say "whew" cause in LPN school at a local junior college all of our exams where a percentage score. 75% is passing with a C. With this EC way of grading I guess its not as strict as it was back in college days. But 160 questions is a lot.

I'm new gald I found this forum. Where's the local nurses at??

1, Is there any hospital need Japanese speaking nurse in Oahu?Our island's economy depends on tourist which the bulk is from Japan. I wouldn't say the need but it would be a plus. We have a shortage of nurses just like any US city so any nurse with the proper credential will not be turned away. 2, Are there many foreign nurses in big hospitals in Oahu or other Islands?-Yes, hospitals through out our islands are or once were "travelers" I would say Queen's has the most of them.

LPN school has gotten reallly expensive. 1999 I started my journey and the total cost for the 11 month program costed around 3,000. Thats with all the labs, books, uniforms, graduation etc...

How did you do it. I been an LPN for 5 years now. Need a raise badly. RN is the only answer. At this point in my life I have a family and other priorites no way a traditioinal college will do. How do you do it?? My brain ain't how it was when I was 19 so I am finding it tough for me to study and absorb the information. Some please give me some inspiration or point me in the right direction!!! Thanks