SDALPN

SDALPN

Peds(PICU, NICU float), PDN, ICU

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All Content by SDALPN

  1. Reusing suction catheters

    SDALPN replied to Gooselady's topic in Private Duty

    I've seen tap water or bottled water used when a pt can't get sterile water...yeah, I know, gross. I will use NSS bullets in a pinch while out to appointments/outings. I've also seen those cardboard...

  2. Does your agency staff private insurance cases before Medicaid cases regardless of acuity?

    SDALPN replied to smartnurse1982's topic in Private Duty

    My agency pays us more if a pt has private ins. But they don't volunteer that info. They tell nurses they don't pay more even though they are reimbursed more. Truth is, they do pay more once they know...

  3. Reusing suction catheters

    SDALPN replied to Gooselady's topic in Private Duty

    Simply call the supply company and ask if they are eligible for the sleeved catheters. Ok it with the parent and then order them instead of the

  4. Reusing suction catheters

    SDALPN replied to Gooselady's topic in Private Duty

    You can request sleeved catheters that can be reused for an entire shift. The sleeved catheters come with a box lined with plastic that you put sterile water in to rinse out the catheters. Take note...

  5. How many hours is too many

    SDALPN replied to mb1949's topic in Private Duty

    Sometimes families get hours authorized for emergencies or whatever and can get 24 hours if coverage while they are out if town. The main concern is that you should ALWAYS have a 485. Not all orders...

  6. Advocating for my pt.

    SDALPN replied to buggybum96's topic in Private Duty

    Pick your battles. With that said, its home care. Its not a hospital. Yes, we provide hospital level care. But its in someones home. Many families don't want date labels on everything. As long as its...

  7. Sharing non specific clinical scenarios

    SDALPN replied to rnrg's topic in Private Duty

    Its good to be vague sometimes on here. I agree that sharing too much can single out a nurse if the right person reads the post. On the other side, I've had people on here get nasty with me for being...

  8. Home ventilators

    SDALPN replied to Gooselady's topic in Private Duty

    The equipment company can teach. Some do classes. The agency training usually is a joke. Training with another nurse helps with real life situations if you can get enough time with a good nurse. You...

  9. Receiving report

    SDALPN replied to bdbrdb's topic in Private Duty

    I give families and nurses 15 min. After that, the agency us paying and I notify the agency so they can handle it. Scheduling isn't my job and its not my place to discuss it with the family. The...

  10. Second job?

    SDALPN posted a topic in Private Duty

    If you have a second job in addition to PDN, what type of job is it? How does it work with your PDN job? I'm not talking about a second job with another agency, but in a different area of nursing or...

  11. New to peds PDN

    SDALPN replied to littlepeopleRNICU's topic in Private Duty

    Its very different from the hospital. Probably the biggest and hardest thing is not throwing away anything. Supplies are hard to get and we reuse everything. When I train nurses from the hospital, we...

  12. Why of why.....can nobody actually show up on time?

    SDALPN replied to yogastudentRN's topic in Private Duty

    Only the agency can fire the nurse as we are not employed by the family (for those of us that work agency). But the family does have the right to hand pick nurses as well as the agency they use. The...

  13. Why of why.....can nobody actually show up on time?

    SDALPN replied to yogastudentRN's topic in Private Duty

    I keep reading on the FB trach boards that the nurses claim they have experience and then the parents have to train the nurse. At first I thought the parents were just trying to make themselves feel...

  14. The pt that always slides down

    SDALPN posted a topic in Private Duty

    I'm out of ideas! I have a pt that slides down no matter what I do. Head must be elevated per orders. But nothing is keeping the kid from sliding down and getting into an awkward position. The pt will...

  15. Why of why.....can nobody actually show up on time?

    SDALPN replied to yogastudentRN's topic in Private Duty

    Oh yeah, and I've seen many times where agencies tell the family that a nurse is experienced when they aren't. You can always ask for a meet and greet with the nurse first and ask them directly about...

  16. Pay rate for central lines

    SDALPN replied to Laurabell08's topic in Private Duty

    That's different. Once you are in your area, you don't get paid by the pt. What you are saying is no different than how pay changes based on facility. Once you are at a pay rate, it doesn't change...

  17. Why of why.....can nobody actually show up on time?

    SDALPN replied to yogastudentRN's topic in Private Duty

    I'm sorry you have to deal with this. Its an opinion and only that, but I'd bet that the nurses on this board are more likely to be the type to care about what they do. My guess is the lazy ones...

  18. New to PDN

    SDALPN replied to Gooselady's topic in Private Duty

    Maybe it has to do with scope of practice by state. But we do IVs and blood draws on patients in the home. Sometimes they have a central line. But sometimes we have IV meds. Depends on the patients...

  19. How do I explain to my snobby family why nurses are important and worthy of respect?

    SDALPN replied to Miss Infermiera2b's topic in General Nursing

    Tell them the doctors need nurses to catch their mistakes and protect the

  20. Pay rate for central lines

    SDALPN replied to Laurabell08's topic in Private Duty

    You don't get paid more in the hospital or Dr office for harder cases. It would be nice, but its just the way it

  21. Bear Hug Transfer

    SDALPN replied to OswinOswald's topic in Private Duty

    Agencies try to find nurses that are a good fit for each case. You may just not be a good fit. Some nurses are fine operating lifts alone, others aren't. Maybe another case with less lifting would be...

  22. Pay rate for central lines

    SDALPN replied to Laurabell08's topic in Private Duty

    Depends on the agency. Some pay by acuity, others say nursing is nursing. They can also base pay on whether the pt has private insurance or not. You can always ask for more pay. The worst they can...

  23. Difficult family member

    SDALPN replied to darkbeauty's topic in Private Duty

    I agree with everyone above, call APS or whatever its called in your area. Especially if you've tried to work with the PCP to change the care plan. Your supervisor should be educating the family as...

  24. Pdn lvn to rn job situation

    SDALPN replied to Girlafraid13's topic in Private Duty

    I agree with that 100%. I'd like to add that you could also consider floating so you can use other skills and/or find a case/shift that allows you to study at work during downtime. Studying at work...

  25. Trying not to step on toes

    SDALPN replied to Not_A_Hat_Person's topic in Private Duty

    I've had quite a few parents say they don't allow nurses to call the MD. I even see parents talk about that on the trach boards. I had a supervisor recently tell me that all I can do is document it...