integrativenurse

Congratulations!

It's funny this post is very old. I took, passed, and had lapsed my CDN. LOL! I just passed my CNN 2 days ago and planning to hang on to it until I retire.

Just an update, I let my CDN lapse after the first 3 years. I just took CNN a couple of days ago. I passed. Barely, but passed. Going back to CNN vs CDN. NNCC has now changed the reg as ADNs can take CNN exam. NNCC had a Zoom meeting early this year about new regs. I missed some of the part since I drank some beer and had to take a long piss. I thought CNN is more difficult than CDN, that's maybe because I didn't put a lot of effort and time studying. I have to say that since I work at an outpatient Renal Clinic and only worked in chronic HD, I had some challenges with PD and transplant. Not so much with acute and vascular access. And there were questions there that made me scratch my bald head about diseases I've never heard of. Thankfully, there's only a few questions about it.

Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot of reliable resources out there. I used Exam Edge and Mometrix, while referencing YouTube on items that I needed clarification on.

Understandably you should be upset. Although it's difficult to find jobs these days but you try broadening your horizon thus making yourself more marketable. If we're all going to be honest, dialysis job is for ones who have been through different specialties and ready to settle down. I really wish you the best of luck!

It looks like both have identical questions. At least they're very similar. My CDN certification expired a year and a half ago. No reason for me to renew it since I don't work in HD anymore and I received my promotion for having it. However, I still work in the renal world so I'm planning on taking the CNN exam this fall. Not getting an extra promotion for this but will help with the appraisal.

I'll keep getting the incentive bonus if I stay for 3 years. One out of 3 is done so far. It depends on the position they're filling. In my position, several nurses were offered in my department but none of them wants to do a Monday to Friday 730-1600 job. Which turned favorably for me since I don't not want to work long hours, weekends, and calls anymore. The job prior to this one really put me and family in a bad position. Jobless for a couple of months until this VA job open its door. God blessed me and family and put me back to my old work family with a much better paying job -- 38% more!

Whatever Arr-tistRN said. But I don't know how other VHA work but I believe ADN is a Nurse 1.

Not sure if you're asking me, but I was offered and given 2 steps higher with a 3-year incentive bonus. Same grade since I didn't have any educational advancement since I left. It's a blessing.

My understanding, at least with my VA hospital, the top admin (execs) people cannot even do a thing with the application process. Meaning, HR and VA hospital admin have their own cocoon. That's why our executives are pissed about it.

Just the basic auscultation and vital signs. Went over vaccination records. I live nearby so my I went the same hospital. However, I know a person from a different state who did his physical and UDS at his local VA and this VA accepted it.

I was in contact with my HR person throughout the process. So, for example, when she said that the they are waiting Employee Health, I called EH and asked them what's happening. It happened that the admin who was supposed to set up my appointment is on vacation and EH didn't assign a surrogate. Who suffers? The applicant for their lack of communication and planning. I wasn't going to have that. The EH nurse helped me out to set up the appointment, got my sh*t done (at least with that angle). Same story with urine drug screening. I called the lab and set that up with them. Without me doing what I did, I saved AT LEAST a month's worth of work. In general the hospital's CEO, bosses, etc. want their applicants in and working because they risk losing their good applicants to the neighboring hospitals. It's just the HR process, which for some reason, has it's own timeline. I don't know if it's laziness or what.

Pros: Using jugs for acid and bicarb RO in same machine Small machine - R2D2 style Cons: Too many to mention.

Not typically. But since I knew who and where to call, I was able to cut the process by 50% (I needed a job desperately).

Truly sorry, I barely log in. Anyway, I always see that non-VA nurses get paid higher than us. However, I'm very happy here. Now, just like anything else, a nurse may end working on a *** unit with *** co-workers, and with *** shifts. I see turnover here on both nurses and doctors. Remember, one VA doesn't reflect the rest of the system. I now work M-F, bankers hours, that's my choice for me and it works well with my family life (dogs, wife, and kids love my schedule). I feel like a normal person. It seems like we always get a yearly raise. Again, I can't speak for regular places. I've also worked as a staff nurse in dialysis in private sector then became the administrator. I'm making more now as a VA employee than in there. Overall, I'm really glad that I'm working at the VA. I guess I should mention that I'm a veteran.