suela

I would save money and complete pre reqs at a community college.

I got my acceptance letter today!

I'll make start at the new grad wage.. $34. I'll work a year or so somewhere else, but for the same hospital/company, then transfer back to the dialysis clinic. I doubt my wage will increase much, but I'll try. Thats the plan anyway... We'll see how things go. No stinkin' letter yet!

I work at an outpatient clinic and generally new RN's orient with an RN for a week or so, then with a PCT mentor for 2-3 weeks, then with a RN mentor for about a month. Also, during orientation, they work 5- 8hour shifts instead of the 3-12's.

Thanks, will do!

Congrats to supermotojen! I have applied to COS for the Fall 2011 semester as well. The waiting is KILLING me! I've joined the gym to cope... Needed that anyway! I was told at the informational meeting I went to, that letters would be sent sometime in April. Now I'm wondering... Is it April or May? What have you guys been told? It's really a 50/50 for me, I think. I have a B in one of my sciences and a B in english.

RN's start at $34/hr at the hospital I work for. That is pretty competitive with the surrounding areas and other facilities.

It is just where my path has led me, I guess. I've been a perpetual student; it has taken me about 7 years to finish my pre-reqs. Single mother of 2, only taking classes for 2 majors when they didn't interfere with family time, or when I wasn't working a second job. I can't imagine working anywhere other than where I am now. I really love everyone; patients and staff alike!

Actually, because I work for a hospital, I'm probably gonna have to do a year or so in med surg before coming back to dialysis. Hospital policy says dialysis nurses have to be experienced RNs, no new grads. Silly, I know.

The LVNs can document the nursing assessment- pre and post tx. Techs can only document the obvious, such as nausea, vomiting, ambulatory status, awareness, etc. The LVNs will also do foot checks, dressing changes, B12 injections (I think), and can initiate tx for cath pts. We only use lidocaine (intradermal injection) to numb cannulation sites for AVFs and grafts and it can be administered by RN, PCT, or LVN. Heparin and saline can be administered by all as well. The LVNs that were recently hired for our unit are still working with mentors (PCTs and RNs), they cannot work alone until they have their CHT certs in-hand. Re: congrats... Thanks! Letters are going out sometime next month; I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I have no plans to leave dialysis, but who knows. I just don't think I could ever go back to 8-hour days! Working 3 days a week affords me lots of family time and I LOVE that.

I work in Ca and have been a PCT for almost 10 years. (Just applied for the RN program!) When I first started, we used LVN's, but when the state decided LVN's could no longer give IV meds, we stopped using them. (I work for a hospital in an outpatient clinic.) We finally hired LVN's again, but they have to have their PCT/CHT certification. They still cannot give IV meds, except heparin load and maint. when initiating tx. There are other things they can do that we techs can't. Their pay range is only about $2 more than ours; we top out at just under $25/hr.