UVaRN2Be

We are an 8 bed bmt unit. We have been running short staffed with a 1:4 ratio. Today was a good day according to our BMT nurses.... 1:2 ratio....1 pca, 1 sitter for confused pt, no huc Some days it can be 1:3/ 1:4 ,with 1 or 2 pca's On nights it is usually 1:4 ,with 1 pca, no huc

I work in Bone Marrow Transplant so we get to know our patients really well, also their families. It is tough when we have a patient die because we develop a long term relationship with them. There have been alot of people that have really touched my heart. There have been only a few that have died on my shift. The way I deal with death is to remember the laughs we have shared, the times I have helped them through their disease, and the hope that something I did made this easier for them to cope with. It is very hard to see someone I care about die. But it is such a blessing to have known these wonderful people that have been brought into my life. I enjoy going down memory lane and asking my coworkers "do you remember so-n-so?" Then we talk about that person and the funny things we remember about them. Sometimes a tear will slip because they are gone, but then a smile will come because of the joy we brought each other.

I use a butterfly 23 G with vacutainer. I sometimes use a blood pressure cuff inflated to 60 instead of a tourniquet. Have had to wrap arms in hot towels, towel wet in a chuck, heated in microwave. Also, used NS bags heated in micro for pt to hold. I usually dont use these all the time as opposed to some I work with. For obese pts, if I cant palpate vein I will ask where someone has gotten them before and look for scar or "landmark."

Questions 1)CNA/nursing student 2)Years as a CNA- 7 3)Virginia 4) Am happy with pay for what I do$23,000-RN's start at 36,000 5)happy with benefits 6)4 10 hour days/ every 3rd weekend/ Rn's also except they work 80 hours within 2 weeks. 7)I think my supervisor is easy to work with, but not as "hard" as she should be 8)Yes I do until I find out otherwise 9)Yes, my institution has a nursing education Dept 10)I LOVE my work 11)No mandatory overtime for CNA's or nurses 12)CNa's get their breaks when we want them pretty much, Nurses take turns and usually get their breaks. 13)I work days, some nurses only work days or nights, others fill in if needed on either shift 14) All employees on my unit rotate holidays. we fill out what we want to have off, and we have to work three of six holidays but usually don't have to work all of the 3 15)My hospital is working on becoming a magnant hospital, but I dont think i would want a union. I would have to be more famillar with them. 16)No I wouldn't. I am there to take care of my patients. 17)The nursing committee where I work is currently working on a stipend for nursing students to pay them their full salary and benifits while in school while only working half of our hours. I work with wonderful people that I consider my friends. We have the support of our medical director, administrator of cancer center and our manager. I am sure that not all of the units in our hospital are that fortunate. We get raises and retention bonuses, tution reimbursement and we have alot of parties. Meredith