DeLana_RN

DeLana_RN BSN, RN

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All Content by DeLana_RN

  1. Inpatient vs. outpatient dialysis

    DeLana_RN replied to gam3rchic's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    I have also worked both outpatient (5 1/2 years) and now inpatient (7 months) dialysis. It sounds like you would be well-suited for dialysis, your apheresis background is a definite plus - the...

  2. Witnessed a terrible death last night--pls help me...

    DeLana_RN replied to Annebug's topic in General Nursing

    When I was a new grad 9 years ago, I too was drawn to oncology; and although I only worked there for 11 weeks (due to an evil head nurse), I probably witnessed and experienced more heart-wrenching...

  3. PCT question

    DeLana_RN replied to carilyn's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    Hi, being an MA would definitely qualify you for a position as a dialysis PCT (and you would be more prepared for the job than many); and no, you don't always have to work full time. Plus, it would...

  4. graft vs fistula

    DeLana_RN replied to kell1566's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    Agree with pp, just wanted to add that it is sometimes not easy to tell the two types of peripheral accesses apart, especially with upper arm grafts (AVGs) or fistulas (AVFs). Some grafts and fistulas...

  5. Hypotension post Dialysis

    DeLana_RN replied to AnnieOaklyRN's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    My guess is that that dialysis clinic staff took off too much fluid, i.e., the patient's EDW (estimated dry weight) is too low and needs to be adjusted. When I worked in a clinic, occasionally pts...

  6. Colleagues who call in sick, but aren't.

    DeLana_RN replied to FireStarterRN's topic in General Nursing

    Only in healthcare are people made to feel incredibly guilty for taking a day off - having to take a day off - for legitimate reasons, such as lack of childcare on short notice. Most of us do what we...

  7. ESRD Refusing dialysis

    DeLana_RN replied to Morning-glory's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    Jacquie, Thanks for the update. You are a loving family and have helped your MIL live her final months in a caring environment; she also had a peaceful death. I'm sorry for your loss.

  8. Being a Charge Nurse

    DeLana_RN replied to Chipola's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    All I can say, hats off to those of you who have to do charge (or RN) duties in addition to taking patients... been there, done that, and it's not pretty. No wonder many outpatient units cannot keep...

  9. OB nurse home for 13 years, thinking of going back to hospital.

    DeLana_RN replied to dcampbell's topic in General Nursing

    6 months ago I returned to hospital nursing after nearly 2 years at home with young children and 7 years away from the hospital (I had worked in a dialysis clinic after leaving the hospital). I can't...

  10. is dialysis less stressful than med surg

    DeLana_RN replied to lillady1225's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    My first jobs in med/surg and stepdown were a nightmare... and chronic dialysis was therefore better. But I hated the hours, I'm not a morning person and getting up at 4:00 a.m. just about did me...

  11. which journal to get?

    DeLana_RN replied to confused101's topic in General Nursing

    My favorite general nursing journals: 1. Nursing 2007 2. RN 3. AJN Specialty journals (I'm in dialysis): 1. ANNA Journal (American Nephrology Nurses Association) 2. Nephrology News and Issues (this...

  12. Need some info about Weekend Option

    DeLana_RN replied to shewalke's topic in General Nursing

    My husband works in the ICU every Fri-Sun (or Sat-Mon), 36 hrs for premium pay; however, he can only take two weekends off per year. This allows me to work acute dialysis PRN; I try to keep it to 2...

  13. Physical Requirements Working in Dialysis

    DeLana_RN replied to CanadianNurse97's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    I worked in chronic dialysis for 5 1/2 years and have to agree with pp regarding the physical requirements there. In addition, however, you may well be required to also transfer pts from w/c to...

  14. Starting late?

    DeLana_RN replied to Lacie's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    Lacie, Pt's complain because they got on only 5 min late? That's not bad at all considering all the responsibilities a nurse has in the chronic setting. In general, it's "supposed" to take about 15...

  15. potassium/dialysate bath

    DeLana_RN replied to LPN2RNBSN's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    Ours do, but only for 30 min, to be followed by 2K for the duration. If the K+ level was very high, stat labs will be drawn after 30-60 min. Of course, we have 1:1 monitoring with such a pt (and...

  16. conflict resolution with patients

    DeLana_RN replied to LPN2RNBSN's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    Patients can contact their network if they have such a complaint; the clinics will take this very seriously. However, few patients are likely to go this far for various reasons (lack of knowledge...

  17. RN- Is This common practice in Dialysis Training?

    DeLana_RN replied to jen75RN's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    Santam, my first reaction to your post was "Run, don't walk out of there" (no need to list them on your resume), but I'm sure that's not what you want to hear. I worked for Gambro until the merger...

  18. "The Victim" and the "Big Ole Meanie who Made Her Cry"

    DeLana_RN replied to Ruby Vee's topic in General Nursing

    Has anyone thought of helping Myrtle come up to speed? Such as being her mentor? I'm sorry, this sounds too much like nurses eating their young (or their own)... JMO,

  19. YOU as a Pt-what would you allow a student nurse to do?

    DeLana_RN replied to KellNY's topic in General Nursing

    I might draw the line at an enema... not that I've ever given one. Actually, do they still do them?!

  20. potassium/dialysate bath

    DeLana_RN replied to LPN2RNBSN's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    Hi, the neph may be looking for a trend with the K+.... but if it has been >5 for several weeks, I don't understand why he wouldn't change the bath to 2K. Maybe someone needs to be the squeaky...

  21. dialysis straight out of school?

    DeLana_RN replied to AlwaysTired's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    Most companies will train you, both on the job and by sending you to courses for the theory. In my case (in 1999), 8 weeks training included 2 weeks ouf of town classroom instruction. Of course they...

  22. Non-Nurses calling themselves a Nurse

    DeLana_RN replied to sarajasmine's topic in General Nursing

    Well said! :yelclap:

  23. Non-Nurses calling themselves a Nurse

    DeLana_RN replied to sarajasmine's topic in General Nursing

    This is one of my pet peeves :angryfire And sadly, patients usually have no idea that the non-nurses are self-important liars (or why else would they say that? I don't call myself a doctor!)

  24. Dialysis LPN

    DeLana_RN replied to msngrad's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    Hi, there, I don't know if dialysis clinics can accept volunteers (due to liability reasons), but perhaps a hospital's dialysis department would (since hospitals usually have volunteers). In any case,...

  25. Dialysis LPN

    DeLana_RN replied to msngrad's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    .....