scootersuz

Hmm, we aren't giving less heparin. If anything our doses have increased. Same manufacturer. Maybe the quality has changed or inaccurate. Even our catheters are clotting more frequently so we increased the concentration on our heparin catheter locks. The medical director hasn't weighed in and the NP is also quite puzzled. They both rotate through several clinics in our two counties. It's a widespread issue here. Our acute nurse said she learned that there is also a nationwide shortage of dialysis catheters. Wondering if that means this is happening other places too or maybe that's just a supply constraint. Sounds like you slowed down too but maybe for better reasons and not needing dialysis. Either that or the pts aren't making it long enough to get discharge and get dialysis. Then there is the push for home hemo which is good if it is a fit. That's not what happening here Though. Thanks for your reply ?

I have worked in our dialysis clinic for over four years. We run 24 patients each shift. Two nurses with 12 patients each. We have had an increasing number of vascular accesses clot off and now we have almost all catheters. On each shift there are usually 9 to 10 catheters out of the 12 patients. That's means I have to assess, hook up and start 9 or 10 Patients myself since techs can't do that in California. We have the same techs, same vascular surgeons etc. no change in technique. The other clinic in town has the same issue. Anyone else seeing this trend with increased clotting of AVF's? More clotting issues? Additionally, we have had so many patients pass in the past six months. We went from a patient population of about 120 to 70. They didn't pass from Covid. Mostly a mix of cardiac arrest, stroke or unknown cause and found at home. It's been sad. We have had more pts receive transplants than usual also. That's always great news. Had to drop one shift and went from three to two. Now instead of being understaffed, we are over staffed with nurses on mandatory pto until we either get more patients or lay off some nurses. We went from having three nurses at turnaround time to having just one nurse on each side of the clinic with 12 patients, almost all of them with catheters. We also still do blood transfusions here. I rush all day long just to get them their meds, antibiotics, Tpn and help with all the other typical dialysis issues that come up. Our clinic unique in its design. It is long and stretched out. Would love to hear if other nurses seeing this increase ?

Thanks for the info. I will definitely keep this all in mind. I am wondering where you are located? it seems your area uses more LVNs and is set up better to do the training as an LVN first. Scotersuz

I just need one more class for my LVN Pre reqs and will need to take it this summer online. I am in California but I dont mind paying for out of state units as long as I get the class done this summer. I am in over my head with classes this spring with full time units and my Microbiology class. Any leads for an online human Development class scootsuz

I just spoke to the woman in charge of the wait list for the Shasta College Nursing program in Redding and they now have over 260 people on the wait list on their program. She said it was a four year wait and had jumped from 2.5 years to 4 years in the last six month plus it will be longer in about two weeks when they add the new applicants. I asked if this was a realistic wait length based on the fact that many of these people may get accepted elsewhere and she said it was pretty accurate based on their past rate of enrolling students on the wait list. I then called the area hospitals in Redding and they are no longer hiring new nurses and will may start laying off people. I dont get it. Its not as though fewer people are needing medical care. It really seems as though the nursing shortage is over. My brother whom has been a nurse along with his wife who is a Nursing Manager said that the nursing shortage was over long ago and that it is all hype so that there is no where near the shortage they once had and with a glut of nurses looking for work they could better control pay rates.. I did not believe him but is sure seems that is the way things are going. As a Pre nursing student it seems that every other person at my local community college is a pre nursing student.

I am a 46 yr old single mom of two year old twins and I am wondering if it is kinder and gentler to get your RN by first doing your LVN and then doing the RN bridge step up program. I am interested in doing this also because of the lengthy wait list for the RN programs. I could get into the LVN program next January but need to wait three years for the RN 2 yr program to start. Any precautions or recommendations about this would be greatly appreciated. I have found that just studying for my pre req classes has been challenging but then again the girls were very very young and it is now just starting to get a bit easier now that they are two. Thanks Scooter

I am actually in a similar situation but without the stress of an ailing father. I am a 46 year old single mom to 22 month old twins and am going to school fulltime with 12 units and working part time. I did not do the math that was suggested... Algebra because I do not need it to get on the wait list. I can get caught up on the math while I am on the two year wait list. But I don't have the necessary math skills for Chemistry. I am taking Chem 104 which is a mix of General, Bio and Organic chemistry. I got a D on my first test. I have talked to my instructor and am keeping in close contact with her as to how I am doing and how I am feeling. I think the fact that she knows I am a mom with young babies makes her a bit more forgiving on a point here and there if I missed something like the wrong # of sig figs or not rounding the answer correctly or missing a unit on an answer. I am using tutors, one private that I schedule to meet me at a nearby coffee shop away from the kids and the free tutors at school. If I did not use tutors there is not way I would make it. I study at night when the girls go to sleep. They co-sleep with me so I use a little book light to read while the sleep next to me. I use my flash cards and keep doing formulas with the tutor over and over again. I am having my tutor review all of my homework before I turn it in to make sure it is accurate and I am very careful in the lab and check my work against the other star students results. If you can do the homework and lab work with good grades than that should help make up for the lower grades on the tests in lecture:bow:. Watch your withdraw date closely so that you can make the best decision about dropping or not. Or you could decide to take the class later when things have calmed down. If I can do it with twin toddlers... and I started all of this when they were 9 months old than you can do it with one newborn... Hang in there and give it your all or make the decision to wait... Either way feel good about your decision. You do have a lot on your plate. Good luck

I Agree , Of Course, I Would Not Make Any Decisions Without Talking To An Attorney Which I Have Done On Two Different Occasions With Two Different Attorneys. The Next Time I Talk To Them They Will Charge Me So It Is Nice To Get Some Ideas From Other People And Their Experiences So I Am Better Prepared With More Focused Questions. One Of The Great Things About These Forums Is That You Really Get So Much Information From So Many Different Sources With People Experiences. In Many Instances I Have Found That I Find Out So Many Things So Much Faster Than Before The Internet. What I Do Know Now That I Did Not Even Think Of Before Is That You Cannot Discharge Student Debt And That During The Bk Process You Cannot Get Loans. Thanks Scootersuz

Thanks So Much For All The Feed Back. I Have Not Done Anything Yet. I Certainly Helps Me Get An Idea Of What Some People Went Through. There Are No Wages To Garnish But My New Question Is Does Anyone Know If They Can Withhold Or Take Student Aid Amounts Either In Bk Or One Of The Creditors?

Thanks for all of your support. I am wondering if anyone has any good pod casts for chemistry that I could listen to as well?? Scootersuz

I have taken A & P and am in Chemistry starting next week. My math skills are poor and I need help with pre algebra level math. Am I doomed in Chemistry?? How much of it depends on your math skills. I want to take it this semester because I am 46 years old and all I will need to get on a three year wait list is Medical Micro biology which I would take in January. The program I am applying to allows you to get to the appropriate level math while you are on the 3 yr wait list. I did well in A & P and have all my other pre reqs finished.

I just wanted to thank everyone for your input. It has really put me at ease that there is some hope out there.. although not absolute....... a chance at anything puts me at ease. Thank you, Thank you Suzie

Thanks for the info. Do you know what the criteria are that determines your place on the waitlist. I just talked to the counselor last week and she did not mention that to me. Any ideas??

Ok I have to add my two cents worth here. I wanted to have a home birth with a mid wife. I was pregnant with twins and the pg went perfect. My girls were in the head down position, ready to go but I developed Pre-eclampsia quickly at the end. My blood pressures spiked and they decided to deliver early and do a scheduled C section. The fact that I was in the operating room for the c section saved my life. I ended up having a massive Bleed pot because my placenta was deeply embedded in the uterine wall. The delivery went code and they called in two other surgeons. They said if I had even tried to do a lady partsl birth in a labor room there was a good chance I would not be here today. And one of my twins needed help breathing so she was taken into the NICU immediately. So a at home unassisted birth. Thanks but no thanks. Things can go wrong.

Does anyone know or have some experience of applying to Shasta College in Redding and getting In. They say the wait list is three years. Is that really the case? I am from Redding and would move back to go to nursing school and work there. I am a single mom of 16 month ols:bugeyes: twins at the age of 45 and I would need to live with my mom to make it work financially so no other college is going to work. Plus I love the Redding area!