gambroRN

Well, thanks for the info. It seems that at least I will not be bored this summer. I took a ride there today to check it out, it's around 100 miles from my home. At least it's not out in the boondocks somewhere. There is a Wallmart and Walgreens about 5 miles from camp ! Just in case!!! Anyway, I leave on June 13th and will post a thread when I return from my first camp experience to share with others in case they want to work a summer there.Take care all & have a wonderful, restful, refreshing summer.

Hi, I signed up to do a six week stint at a New Image Weight Loss camp. Has anyone worked at one of these camps before, and if so, what was your experience like? Also, do you have any recommendations for a first time "camp nurse"? Thank you so much.

FYI - gambroRN is an old screen name - this is not in reference to Gambro.

I work in an acute dialysis setting where we do around 200 treatments per month, not including CRRT therapy. We have been getting paid (and got hired at) a per treatment rate of $125/00 for hemodialysis and a $75.00 flat rate for CRRT set-up. Because of the high patient volume (there are only 3 full-time RN's), we took it upon ourselves to try to get a "dialysis unit" in the hospital where we could take the patients for their treatments and do 2 at a time. Naturally, we still do 1:1 in the ICU and CVICU and ER. We talked it over with the nephro doctors and got their support. It took a long time, but we finally opened it last Oct. Now, we got notification, that effective immediately, we will be getting paid $125/tx for the 1st patient and $85.00 /tx for any subsequent patients we do in the dialysis unit. We will still get $125 for the ICU, etc. The dialysis company (who will remain anonymous), is still charging the hospital/patient the same amount, but we are getting paid less. We get $30/day to be on-call and we take call one nite a week and one weekend a month. I would be interested in knowing what other acute RN's are making and if you think this is fair??????? Thanks and God Bless..... :)

I'm sure that different clinics have different dynamics going on in them, but my experience with Gambro was not a good one. I feel that their management personnel were ill trained for those positions, and as a result there were a lot of disgruntled employees, and high turnover rates. The clinic I worked at is in Florida, but I know other HD nurses in other Gambro clinics that have run into the same situations. If you are already having second thoughts, I'd have to say "GO WITH YOUR GUT"!!!!

Just wanted to ask any seasoned case managers out there. I have been offered a case management position for a rehab hospital, and I'm very tempted to take it. However, I do not have any case management experience, they are willing to train me. What should I realistically be looking at for salary????This is a full time position. Also, does anyone know how a case managers salary compares to a floor RN's hourly wage??? Thanks so much for the input.

This has absolutely nothing to do with nursing - but I know I can count on my fellow nurses to offer up some reliable information. We are looking for a small dog for a family pet. My youngest child (7), has asthma and allergies. We had a golden that we needed to find a home for because she was so bad around him. Many people have told me that maltese, bichon frise or poodles would be good choices for people with allergies. Can any of you offer your expertise on the matter? Thanks to all.

Thanks to all for y our opinions - let me try to clarify the situation. My Dad is not at all able to take care of the cath himself and as far as the ALF is concerned, they are not "licensed" to do catheter care (I will talk to the director about the options y ou folks brought up tho). But, his MD talked to me regarding his Parkinsons and told me that by placing a catheter we would just be prolonging the inevitable - it would in essence relieve the hydronephrosis, but due to the muscle rigidity of Parkinsons there would be another hurdle to address in the not to distant future. We also discussed quality of life issues. Right now, my Dad just pretty much sleeps all day (or tries to), and drools constantly. Parkinsons is such a terrible illness....I can't even put into words what it feels like having to witness this unbelievable decline every day. I just want to cry. THis is a tough decision - but can't tell you all how much I appreciate your input - and just being there to listen.....Thanks and God bless all of you.

I need some advice - hope some of you have been there and can help! I'll try to keep this as compact as possible. I am my Dad's Health Care Proxy. He is 84 year ols. He has Parkinsons (advanced) - very symptomatic. Confused and disoriented at times. After taking a close look at his labs, found he had an elevated BUN and creatinine. Took him to a nephrologist and had renal ultrasound done - showed hydronephrosis. Took him to a urologist for bladder ultrasound, bladder was full. MD gave him the option of a suprapubic catheter placement or letting nature take its course. So - if he has the catheter placed - he cannot stay at the assisted living facility due to restrictions involving assisted living residences. But if I decide not to have the catheter placed - he will further compromise his kidney function - possibly putting him in a position of having to be dialzyed. Dad currently resides in an assisted living facility (that I am very happy with - after signing him out of a nursing home AMA) OR - I can elect not to do anything and let nature take its course. I know my Dad would not want to be kept alive mechanically, vented (etc), but this - I don't know. The urologist told me that he has a dual problem - BPH and rigidity caused by the Parkinsons on his sphincter muscle. It's tough having to make these kind of decisions for a loved one - I have been very depressed over this - would appreciate hearing from anyone that has been in a similar situation. Thanks so much. God Bless.

I need some advice - hope some of you have been there and can help! I'll try to keep this as compact as possible. I am my Dad's Health Care Proxy. He is 84 year ols. He has Parkinsons (advanced) - very symptomatic. Confused and disoriented at times. After taking a close look at his labs, found he had an elevated BUN and creatinine. Took him to a nephrologist and had renal ultrasound done - showed hydronephrosis. Took him to a urologist for bladder ultrasound, bladder was full. MD gave him the option of a suprapubic catheter placement or letting nature take its course. So - if he has the catheter placed - he cannot stay at the assisted living facility due to restrictions involving assisted living residences. But if I decide not to have the catheter placed - he will further compromise his kidney function - possibly putting him in a position of having to be dialzyed. Dad currently resides in an assisted living facility (that I am very happy with - after signing him out of a nursing home AMA) OR - I can elect not to do anything and let nature take its course. I know my Dad would not want to be kept alive mechanically, vented (etc), but this - I don't know. The urologist told me that he has a dual problem - BPH and rigidity caused by the Parkinsons on his sphincter muscle. It's tough having to make these kind of decisions for a loved one - I have been very depressed over this - would appreciate hearing from anyone that has been in a similar situation. Thanks so much. God Bless.

You can have my job - some of these center directors are not to be believed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Bully in a playground mentality. Good Luck. The patients are fun tho.