Guttercat ASN, RN

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All Content by Guttercat

  1. Guttercat

    Acute or Chronic Dialysis Nursing?

    Guttercat replied to FransBevy's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    talax, it really seems to depend upon numerous factors including the company and size of the unit and patient volume. Anecdotally speaking, our unit is (relatively) very well-staffed, w/ 2 RN's on...
  2. Guttercat

    How long is your shift?

    Guttercat replied to MJB2010's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    MJB, Any luck on a new
  3. Guttercat

    minimum UFpossible?

    Guttercat replied to suetje's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    Agree with above, check your machine and dialyzer maufacturer's standards. 300 ml/min is common min UF. As you mentioned/alluded to, min UF is there as a minimum negative pressure safegaurd against...
  4. Guttercat

    New Grads, then and now. What has changed?

    Guttercat replied to leilo0's topic in General Nursing

    Bingo. What I wouldv'e given to have a "sounding board" twenty years ago when I went to a large ICU (handling cranies, open hearts... the whole shebang) position as a New Grad, and was given exactly...
  5. Guttercat

    Patient Surveys..vent.

    Guttercat replied to Caffeine_IV's topic in General Nursing

    Agreed but you have to admit that, "hey, my siderail has been getting its blood pressure checked every 15 minutes" was pretty funny. Bad practice, but funny in the black humor sense. :) In other news,...
  6. Guttercat

    Older RNs, job market for experienced RN

    Guttercat replied to spencerma2's topic in Nursing Career

    Huge changes at our hospital. Big layoffs/early retirement packages etc. There has been over the last few months...a whole lot of young, fresh faces appearing in the halls I don't recognize. Some...
  7. Guttercat

    Cruise Nurse Great job

    Guttercat replied to phdr's topic in Nursing Career

    I tinkered with the idea at one point. 24/7 call was an immediate dealbreaker. No
  8. Guttercat

    Acute or Chronic Dialysis Nursing?

    Guttercat replied to FransBevy's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    A PCT in charge of 3-4 patients at a time is a dying model. An RN overseeing 12 patients at a time, is also a dying model. Exceptions occur in units with less than 16 stations. An FMC RN I know, is...
  9. Guttercat

    Another non-profit, hospital-owned dialysis dinosaur, eaten by the Corporate Big Dogs

    Guttercat replied to Guttercat's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    But that "time" was fifteen or more years ago. What we see now is not the result of recent Medicare cutbacks. We're seeing the end result of those that had their heads in the game a long time ago, and...
  10. Guttercat

    My NCLEX Story, Please read to be inspired!

    Guttercat replied to JoeRN2012's topic in NCLEX Exam, Programs

    HAPPY NEW YEAR AND CONGRATULATIONS! (on both counts). I have to say though, you young ones are sorely missing out on the good ol' days of sitting two-day nclex exams in a giant hall with 150 of your...
  11. Guttercat

    Another non-profit, hospital-owned dialysis dinosaur, eaten by the Corporate Big Dogs

    Guttercat replied to Guttercat's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    The politics of how health care has become politics, is fascinating. And not just health care...think Monsanto. "That guy" is now the head of the FDA. Interesting
  12. Guttercat

    Patient Surveys..vent.

    Guttercat replied to Caffeine_IV's topic in General Nursing

    Wow. Just wow. Health care is a rapidly changing beast. Fasten your seatbelts ladies and
  13. Guttercat

    Acute or Chronic Dialysis Nursing?

    Guttercat replied to FransBevy's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    THAT, is my biggest peeve. ER doc calls nephrologist at 1150 stating "the patient's CXR shows pulmonary edema! (duh) He's fluid overloaded!" Nephrologist says, "OK, call the on-call dialysis RN." The...
  14. Guttercat

    Acute or Chronic Dialysis Nursing?

    Guttercat replied to FransBevy's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    Do you like to run your own show? Go acutes. Do you thrive on multi-system puzzles? Go acutes. Do you like to be the go-to person in facillitating problem-solving for several different departments,...
  15. Guttercat

    Needing encouragement, trying to get past being fired a few years ago.....

    Guttercat replied to nursingosaurus's topic in General Nursing

    I was "let go" from a position very early on in my career. The two managers were constantly on my case for reasons that to this day make no sense to me. I was a "yes sir/yes ma'am" shrinking violet...
  16. Guttercat

    How long is your shift?

    Guttercat replied to MJB2010's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    Good for you for taking the bull by the horns and changing what is an unhealthy life/work situation. I think most of us care about doing a great job, and care about our patients a great deal. A person...
  17. Guttercat

    How long is your shift?

    Guttercat replied to MJB2010's topic in Dialysis, Renal, Urology

    MJB, how did the interviews go? Any
  18. Guttercat

    Fecal Transplants- What do you think about this?

    Guttercat replied to indigo girl's topic in General Nursing

    It's been an old, vet trick for years. Takes people-doctors a while to catch
  19. Guttercat

    Question for nurses from an aide

    Guttercat replied to kizeemimi's topic in General Nursing

    If I ever end up back on "the floor" it will most likely be back in ICU (if I can get in after so many years out). I shudder at the thought of all day having my head buried in either an Accudose, or...
  20. Guttercat

    "That nurse is vile" (long)

    Guttercat replied to PintheD's topic in General Nursing

    They would not disclose what the exact accusations were??? Surely you must have some idea? Whatever the accusations, with what you've described, a nice letter or phone call with apologies was made to...
  21. Guttercat

    How bolus infusions of NaCl may affect low sodium levels...?

    Guttercat replied to Xsited2baNurse's topic in General Nursing

    Seriously. Still enjoying this tennis match...
  22. Guttercat

    Anyone else dealing with anxiety/emotional issues?

    Guttercat replied to rntj's topic in General Nursing

    You are obviously a caring person, who wants to leave work knowing your job was well done, your patients were well-cared for, and no strings were left untied. Your supervisors see this, and not your...
  23. Guttercat

    Bedside Reporting starting Monday :(((

    Guttercat replied to 2bTraumaRN2008's topic in Nursing Professionalism

    Good gawd. I'm all for making the patient feel welcomed and cared for. But this scripting nonsense... We're being turned into circus monkeys. Nursing: like the agriculture industry, I can plausibly...
  24. Guttercat

    How bolus infusions of NaCl may affect low sodium levels...?

    Guttercat replied to Xsited2baNurse's topic in General Nursing

    Me still likey this thread. That is all.
  25. Guttercat

    What career did you have before nursing?

    Guttercat replied to julibyrd's topic in General Nursing

    Warts and all (and there are many) it is an exquisite profession. What other profession can make you go home, shut the blinds, turn off the phone, whimper on your couch and suck the lifeblood out of...