Nurse.NoFilter

I'm looking for whatever my opportunities are. So please share whatever you know.

Hello! I am a nurse with 8 years experience in LTC/Rehab as an LPN and a new RN since May. I'm looking to expand my resume to look more favorable to data review, utilization review, chart review, HEDIS positions. My current hospital offers NONE of these options for me because we outsource all of that. The more I look at these positions the more I know they suit my personality, diagnosed OCD and very type A about documentation. How can I get this experience? I'm reaching out to HR at another local hospital as soon as I get her contact information from my SIL. But ideally I'd like to find a remote option for training. I debated doing medical coding and billing at my local community college but don't know if that would actually be beneficial to me? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I do not work in Mqt hospital. I'm an hour and a half further north. From what I've heard, and seen during clinicals, ALOT of the nurses are travel. During my week there, staff seemed happy with their jobs, but obviously that was a micro view of the climate.

I guess I should mention this residents right arm was contracted, so no access to veins there. Left arm had the PICC line in it..I placed the tourniquet below the PICC line which may have obscured my ability to see some veins. Can a tourniquet be placed above the PICC line? (Seemed lime a bad idea to me) Thank ya'll for the replies, I appreciate the information! I will ask if I can follow someone who is good at venipuncture, but I don't know how likely that will be as the blood draws seem scattered.

I am a new LPN working at a LTC facility. Some day I will return to school for attain my RN, but for now I feel content practicing as a nurse, gaining new knowledge and experience every day! In our facility RN's & LPN's have the same responsibilities besides that RN's can start emergency IV meds(as far as I know that is the only difference for us, and believe me I have asked and read policies to cover myself). I have drawn blood only one time, on a supervisor who had beautiful veins. We had a order to draw blood for labs for a resident that has a PICC line(which was being used to infuse 0.9% Sodium Chloride). We held the IV and attempted to flush the PICC line, the first port flushed easily with 10mL saline but we coul only draw 2 mL back out of the port to waste(prior to drawing the blood sample). So we tried the other port, the 2nd port flushed with some difficulty, and we could not draw back at all to waste. Then we looked for another vein to draw blood from, but this resident had tiny veins or veins I couldn't see. Obviously we had to hold the residents IV and informed the following shift in hopes they could get the blood draw The doctor was in and suggested we try to flush the ports with Cathflo. Please give me some tips on where you look for veins on people who have tiny hard to see veins. Sorry its so long, maybe its a new nurse thing, or I'm just OCD and love details.