wmsclan

right now i work on a "modified team nursing" unit. each nurse, both lvn and rn have 5-6 pts on day shift. we work primary care for those pts and the rn's are there as a "resource" for the lvn's. care plans, hang blood etc. the only thing that lvn's can't do in the hospital is those things outside the bne scope and admission assessments. so the "team nursing" concept works, just in a different way.

we don't need an order to draw from a picc. need a one time order to access a port and only rn's can do that. once the port is accessed both rn's and lvn's can draw blood/push meds etc.

work in a 39 bed med-surg/renal unit. on sunday, christmas eve had 22 pts. on christmas day were down to 18, but went back to work today and had 35 pts on the floor.

i have the fun oppertunity of being the nurse that not only deals with the dialysis but also works the floor of a med-surg/renal floor. we are a 39 bed unit as well as having a dialysis clinc on the same floor. i found that not only do i enjoy the dialysis aspect but also enjoy the patient contact after the treatment. not to mention you can also get to know the patients fairly well. we have a lot of "frequent flyers" that come through the unit due to the multiple medical problems that dialysis pts have. i absolulty love the renal specialty. the pts know that you and your care are one of the reasons that they can continue to live the life they want. that is more than enough reason for me to do what i do. hang in there, it does get better and the pts (while trying at times) know that without you and dialysis their life would be totally different.