WhiteLily

Thank you Onekidneynurse! It seems to me that everything about nursing is a grueling experience, especialy the clinicals. I'll be lying if I said that I wasn't scared! Everything new in life is scary. What is encouraging for me is the fact that I liked the experience. I would actually prefer to start that way, with on-site training. I know that I have to have my RN license first, for sure. If you don't mind me asking, I suspect that you are yourself a dialysis nurse.

I can't answer the question about leaving, but I do like to ASK a question regarding dialysis nursing. I am a brand new grad fro an RN nursing program. Nursing is my second career. I had a very good clinical experience (though a brief one) in a dialysis center. Now, as soon as my licence is avilable, I will look for a job, needless to say. What does it take to be able to work as a dialysis nurse, and find a job? Any feedback is greatly appreciated!

Thank you IVRUS, I am actually not doing it, but rather reading from a book about it. In the hospital I was told to flush peripherally inserted catheters with 10cc NS before and after meds, and to flush the PICC lines with 10 cc NS followed by 5cc heparin.

Is the definition of a PICC line, namely Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter the same as Percutaneously Inserted Central Catheter? Also when we flush the PICC,line we use 2ml normal saline followed by 1ml heparin (at 11U/ml), and we flush the Midline Catheters with 5-10 ml normal saline followed by 1 ml heparin (at 100U/ml)? Thanks.

Great point to remember! Thanks.

Thank you all for the good answers!

Why do we use free (tap) water to administer to pts with NG tubes, as opposed to saline water?

Thanks, I am able to open this one.

I can't open this site...

Debbie, congratulations! Thank you for the great story. You should be proud of your accomplishments, bravo!! I personally have one more semester to tackle before the NCLEX, but I am already inspired by your perseverance. I am sure you are going to be a wonderful nurse! On another note, I was wondering, how many times are we allowed to retake the NCLEX exam, before we have to go back to school for the whole ordeal? And I think you are right about this website. It's very informative and supportive, since we all share the same interests. Thanks again and keep up the good work.

Thanks to all of you. I think the second nurse's concern was mainly the pt's heart condition. This was a telemetry floor.

Thank you! I was wandering how long does it take to infuse 250cc bolus (just that, by gravity), and without the pump? Google is not helping a lot on this one.

Thank you all, for the questions and for the answers. It's nice to know why things are called the way they are.

Thank yuo for the great info, CritterLover! I have struggled with a similar question. On my last clinical rotation, a pt with MI, AAA, CAD,and a pacemaker, was hypotensive. The order was for 250cc NS bolus, and after that to continue with 1000ml NS at 100cc/hr. The nurse desided to give the bolus amount through the pump at 990cc/hr (out of the 1000ml bag, and not separate as a bolus), and the remainder of the fluids (750ml) at 100cc/hr. Another staff nurse was terrified that the bolus was given that fast (in about 15 mins). She pulled me on the side and said, "Don't you ever, ever do this in your whole carrier! Our lady, a fragile 84 yo pt has a pacemaker, heart block, and AAA! And what have we done?" I am only a student, as you might've guessed, and I would like to know what is the appropriate action in this case?