PomPomRN

It is as you say: continuous ALL day patient turnover and that leaves very little time for anything other than assessments and passing medications. I do believe there is more change on the horizon though and I'm not sure it will help the situation. It seems as though in some areas there will be new regulations on wiping down patient areas and setting up for the next patient - such that the machine will not be able to be cleaned and restrung until the previous patient has "completely" vacated the station entirely. That's when we will be cleaning the station in it's entirety and prepping for the next patient. Seems to me it will add more time to our day! But, only time will tell, and a positive attitude and a smile will help get you through the day! Try to remember it is about patient safety and the quality care we provide!

Which Dialysis nurse certification is actually more useful for an ASN Dialysis nurse, the CHN - BONENT or the CDN - ANNA?

I work in a clinic where pts and PCTs pretty much run the place. Wanna leave 15 minutes early? No problem, the PCTs just take the pt off tx and when I ask why they just say because the pt wanted to be done. What?! In my source of knowledge you just don't shorten someone's tx for convenience, and when I try to discuss it the techs get annoyed and say they can't force anyone to stay on tx! But, you shouldn't encourage them to shorten it either!! Also, we have multiple pts that experience hypertension pretty much the entire tx. When assessing the pt they insist when they are home their bp is often much lower and they have taken bp meds prior to tx. Why then are they persistently running high on tx? Is it due to the basic physiology of the tx itself? I have not been able to get a definitive answer from anyone I have asked, not even the docs. We have a few that have very high HRs post and they refuse to stay for any further assessment. I have been told to document pt advised, md aware. Really?! Because I didn't have time to call the doc and no one else has either - to my knowledge. What is the nonchalant attitude that I have to deal with and why does it happen? I am still fairly new and feel like I am not as comfortable as I had hoped I would be at this point,

Well, unfortunately, I happen to be one who can testify as to how extremely difficult the techs can make your life. I had an episode where I witnessed something very unsafe and pointed it out to the nurse orienting me to my unit. She evidently used my name when she asked the techs not to perform the task in an unsafe manner. Well, that went over like a fart in church!! The techs no longer speak to me, for any reason, they don't answer the alarms if I am any where in the general vicinity and do not even check the patients vital signs and sign them off. It is making life very difficult as I spoke to my FA and decided at this time I should be the bigger person. However, I would also like to hold on to my license, so I have a lot of thinking to do. And I thank God I only work 3 days a week!! Hoping it will be much easier on you!

I'm seriously trying to like it. I am finding it hard to stay positive in a negative place. The people I work with generally do not like where they are and have no trouble talking badly about each other and our bosses on a daily basis. They complain about their hours, complain about the patients, and when it starts getting close to the end third shift they start getting downright miserable and making no bones about telling you to get "DONE" so they can "Get Out Of Here!" They have no problem with telling anyone and everyone that they are looking for jobs elsewhere and how much they "Hate" their jobs since the clinic got a new FA. It's sad really, no one wants to be around negativity all the time. I've only been doing this a little less than 2 months. So I basically do anything and everything I can to help out and get through the day. Hoping it will get better in time or maybe I will look for a new location cause I don't dislike the job, just the atmosphere of the clinic I'm in.

Thanks everyone for you comments and advice. Clodcat, you hit it right on the head. That's my experience to a tee. I try real hard to be wherever I can be to help out as much as possible. I'm still in training and find my self being left alone to "figure" things out by "trial and error", which in my opinion is not always the best way when I have a patient's blood outside of their body. I do think it is getting a little better, but the gossip is seriously undermining the whole clinic environment. I try to be Switzerland at all times, I do not gossip, don't feed into gossip and don't approve of the gossip. If anyone asks me "about" another co-worker, I do not say anything incriminating. I know they talk about me when I'm not around, but that's all part of this game, I guess. I too took a major paycut to accept this position and refuse to let it break me. I want to do this and do it well. I do not want to be defeated. Being a Living Donor and giving my kidney also plays a role in my strong desire to stick it out. I made a connection with a patient the other day that all my other co-workers despise and I feel that each and everyone of these people deserve to be treated with respect and not judged. We have no idea what they go through on a daily basis, I wouldn't want to be hooked to a machine 3 days a week for hours and hours. God has put them in our lives for a reason and we need to give them compassionate care even if they are not someone we would "hangout" with in our personal lives. God gives us the strength and we must use it to provide great care for those who need it. Thanks all!!

@allaboutfun, I sent you a pm. I too feel it is not the company but the clinic I am in. This particular clinic was recently purchased by one of the big companies and I feel that the employees have been in this clinic since it opened and are not very receptive to the changes, even if they are for the better. It is sad that they do not respond in a positive manner to new employees, as this will continue to feed into the negative atmosphere. I am not sure who to talk to at the clinic, because I don't think I want to be considered to be the "overly sensitive" new girl. I am determined to hang in as long as I possibly can. This clinic is super close to my home, and I had to take a paycut to take this job. Good Luck to everyone. We just have to keep our chins and spirits up!

Just recently started working in a chronic care dialysis clinic. I really want to like this job. Why do they tell you that your training will be blah, blah, blah and then you show up and there is no organization, no one REALLY wants to help you and God forbid you should ask someone a question. I have been in the unit a total of 12 days - over the past month and some of the PCTs have started to talk to me like I'm an idiot. Do we have to put up with this? I understand they are busy and stressed, but I am also stressed considering I only have a short time to learn what I need to know to be a team leader and take care of patients on my own. And not for nothing but I will be held responsible if I make a mistake and also be held responsible for what they are and are not doing for the patients. It's a lot to learn in a fairly short time, and long days are to be working closely with people in such a negative environment. Besides that I am "following" and being told, "Oh, when you have to do this, you should make sure you are doing it the "right" way". Then I will ask a question if I think someone is doing something different than the way I was shown and they get ****** off! So, how is one to learn the "right" way if all I'm seeing is the "not-so-right" way? How long is it going to take for me to feel really comfortable?

Whoot Whoot!! Congratulations!!

Congratulations!! And also Congrats to everyone that is going to school for any level of nursing training! The field needs good, caring, respectable nurses!! Just a thought for all: Do not let anyone put you down! You are preparing to care for sick people who need you, so anyone who puts negative thoughts out there to make you feel like you can not succeed Does Not deserve a second thought from you!! You can and will be a FANTASTIC nurse, because that is where God wants you to be!! Do not allow them to stop you, Go For It!! You are meant to be Great nurses!! Just sayin'

Hello again. I did not receive the email with the review info. Would you please be so kind to attempt again? [email protected] Thank you so much for your help! Good Luck to all studying!

Is it possible to also receive an email with the review information? [email protected] Thank you!

It is true that TCN is not affiliated with a college, any college. They are strictly a publishing company, they print the learning modules and sell them to students that purchase them through their company. I too used TCN, and was well aware of the fact that they were just a publishing company. I found the modules to be very portable and helpful for me personally. However, that being said, they are very expensive and once you sign up and allow three days to pass you can not get out of the contract and you are obligated to pay for them, whether you actually use them or not. Good luck to you, and also you have to check in with them prior to using a learning module, if it is outdated they replace it for free. I just completed Excelsior's ASN program using TCN learning modules!

I just tested the end of January, and passed. First, know your mnemonics like the back of your hand (they were key to my passing). Take the ones in Sheri's and compare them to EC's critical elements and then customize them to make them easier for you to remember. I only had to tweak them a little. Practice your labs, so you feel comfortable performing them under pressure. Also, I used Sheri's online for about 5 weeks, and that helped overall. Most testers that do not pass the first time is mainly due to nerves and stress, not the nurse being unfamiliar with assessing and completing critical elements. Practice CarePlans and send them to Sheri for grading, that was also extremely helpful. If you do the online workshop or in person workshop Sheri sends you 2 CarePlans a week, you complete them and send them for grading. It really helps to understand CarePlans. You can do this! It is definitely doable! Good Luck to you.

I just passed my CPNE, the weekend of Jan 25 - 27th. I am hoping to be an Excelsior RN-BSN student soon. Waiting for my graduation packet so I can pay, take the NCLEX and get moving on to BSN. Good Luck to everyone.

I took my English Comp through U-EXCEL. It is a 3 credit course and it wasn't as stressful as preparing for a 6 credit Eng Comp. I don't know what additional course or courses will be required if you continue on for your BSN, but the U-EXCEL course wasn't so bad. I got a B and totally didn't think I was going to pass. U-EXCEL has info on the Excelsior website, under resources. Good Luck

I can not believe you had such bad luck on the way to your CPNE. I can't wait to see your post when you go back and pass. You must have been so shaken up after being hit from behind like that - I don't know if I would have even been able to get through the labs after that. Good Luck to you!!

Hi scmitchell_04, Hi there. That's great that we will test the same weekend. What are you using to study? Inbox me, please.

I passed the FCCA in August, it took me a while to get my paperwork in (procrastinating). I got everything together and submitted it on a Friday and I thingk it took 2 weeks total to get my date, and the shceduler was oof part of the one week so it really did not take long. If you get impatient waiting just call them, they are always very nice whenever I call. My CPNE is scheduled for the weekend of Jan 25th, in Utica. I picked all hospitals in the NPAC. Good Luck to you!

To tnmarie, I did wind up getting the weekend before you. Don't know how that happened, just want to be finished. And I can't wait to be congratulating you when you pass!! Study and pray, we can do this!! Best of Luck to everyone preparing for their CPNE and all other Excelsior tests as well!

Found the Tina Logan website, added it to my favs.

I was hoping to take Tina Logan's workshop in PA when I finally became CPNE eligible, but we all know that can't happen. : ( I even knew where I was going to stay, I have a friend that lives 5 minutes from the Church where the workshop was held. Is there anyway to gain access to her videos that were posted here briefly? I have a lot of other study material, just really wanted her stuff (have heard tons of good things about her workshop and videos). Can't afford to take a workshop in CA or Georgia, and timing of my CPNE doesn't coincide with the Excelsior workshop. Kind of feeling S.O.L. right about now. Good luck to everyone preparing for the CPNE - if you have recommendations on other videos that are worth the time and $, I will be forever grateful for any and all suggestions! Thanks

I just got my date this past week, I am testing in Utica the last weekend in Jan 2013. Good Luck to you tnmarie. It's nice to read good things about the site where we will be testing!!

Just got my date the other day, I am testing in Utica the weekend of Jan 25th. Looking through the study guide, watching the Excelsior CPNE DVD and now I am nervous as all getout!! I felt like I was getting heart palpatations!! LOL How the heck am I going to control my nerves during the test?? Oh well, time will tell. Prayers will have to help get me through.

I got all my paperwork together - Finally! Application process completed and now the waiting begins, I know it takes awhile, so I will have to be patient and start reading the CPNE Study Guide - UGH! How is everyone else making out preparing for the CPNE?