me: i have been a rn for 15 years, 6 years in OR, 6 years in LTCF, 1 year in chronic dialysis, 2 years in acute dialysis...took to dialysis like a fish to water...up and running in 2 weeks!
work: sticking with per diem agency for the acutes ($45/hr that way) to keep the cash flow. recently signed on with a local gambro facility as prn to get back into the re-use mode (in case i start traveling and have to do re-use... let's face it... if you dont use it, you lose it!!!), but the pay sucks...only $27/hr for prn... that's why i'm only going to do about 1 day a week...
re-use: Hate re-use!!! LOVE the fact that the transition is towards disposable set ups...
machines:
hate baxter 1550s... 21 machines that beep 2 times every 2 minutes just to let you know they're on... a cacophony of noise...but if i ever do a dialysis cruise, i would at least know how to troubleshoot the machine...
LOVE C3s (and C3+s) wish cobe would come back into play...
gambro pheonixs are ok...not as user friendly as the C3s...
baxter althins and Tinas are my second fav... very user friendly...
I don't know if any hospitals train nurses. I rarely do hemodialysis in hospitals.. Did chronics in Danbury and will now be doing it in Maine for the summer.. I personally don't like acutes.. Boring to me.
I don't know anyone who uses Baxter's except cruise ships.. I used the old Baxter's with the pump on the top years ago in the late 80's
Are you saying that you are an independent contractor traveling??
Hello all, I am new to the list, an LPN for 17 years and entering school this fall for BSN. I work in a hospital based dialysis unit w/ acute and chronic patients. We are changing over from Tinas to Fresenius machines. My opinion is Tinas are "old faithful" most of the time, and Fresenius is technologically incredible. However, if they were combined it would make an awsome machine. I think it's wonderful this board is available!
What Fresenius machine are you getting? I am at an assingment in Maine using the Altin machine.. Different of course but I think I like it ok.. It doesn't have as many features or abilities as Fresenius..
Good Luck with your studies.. Are you staying in dialysis?
over the past month have been working with the new fresenius k machines!!! awesome!
my perfect machine would have the following:
1.touch screens like the baxter and fresenius
2.single cartridge tubing like the C3/Pheonix
3.bicart load like the C3/Pheonix
4.an event timer like the baxter althins/tinas...so you could set the timer to remind yourself to draw that PT in 30 mins or make sure your blood cultures are 30 minutes apart...
5. heat disinfect with auto shut off like fresenius and baxter
6.vinegar hook up on the back like bleach/actril (with a seal lid for the tubing so that the vinegar doesnt go bad)
and of course...
every unit should have 1K, 2K, and 3K running in the walls to eliminate lugging jugs all over god's green earth...
OR...
coming up with a "bicart type" system where you could load a K+ cartridge, Ca++ cartridge, and Glucose, then program the machine for 2K, 3K, etc, and 2.5Ca, 3.0Ca, or 3.5Ca etc...
any thoughts?
#1 touch is ok but only if you have the touch.
#2 Yeah one tubing is nice. and I like the cartridge on the Cobe3 ....butttttttttt Gambro is going to all Phoenix according to their website
# 3 In Waterville Maine we have bottled Bicarb. Gallons I think takes about 4+ for a 4 hour treatment. And bottled Acid. All the range we mix nothing.. Don't know the manufactuer. I'll have to check that out.
#4 Use the RTD clock on the Fresenius as a reminder I do it all the time. Or we have a kitchen timer.. Actually, we all had them to use for heparing circualtion of 5 minutes before bleeding on.
#5 Althin has auto shut off. But because of some dubbya tech Fresenius won't let us leave until all machines are shut down.. Major flood somewhere..HMMMMMM
#6 Since when did vinegar "go bad"
#7 Refer to #3 and no climbing to the "wall"
I like the Althins except for the fact that they don't have the standard "profiles" like Fresenius.
What I'd like to see is the computer system Gambro has.. No chasing down run sheets or people to sign them ..All computer generated, computer charting, when the techs are done so is the charge nurse because she doesn't still have to key in all that info.
WR,,, three commas for Becca
What do you want to invent the better dialysis machine..????
Hey WR and all dialysis professionals!!
Sooooo glad we have a forum. It's been months since I've visited. What a nice surprise.
I too have used the Cobe machines and loved them, especially the (+) machines. I loved the blood line cartridge setup and bicarb on the machine. No mixing!!
Since traveling I've only used the Fresenius H's and a few K's. I really like the K machines. Very user friendly.
I Love dialysis. This is my third year in nursing and dialysis. I have found my niche!
Yeah... Much better!
Waiting for my Alabama license. Looking forward to Birmingham. Yeah,,,we should all get together and invent the perfect dailysis machine.
Count me IN!
HN
Hey,
Just wondering, has anyone ever had a dialysis assignment in Florida? I have family there and would consider something near Eglin AFB. I saw that QT Staffing has assignments in Panama City for acute/chronic.
I just found this site. I've been in dialysis for 10 yrs, but out for the past 6. Looking to get back in with one the the BIG 3. Which company do you recommend (pay, working conditions, hrs, benefits). Any info would be greatly appreciated. Baxter's all I know; I was a Machine Queen. It's going to be hard to get used to Fresenius.
Thanks,
BS
A machine is only about 15% of the process of dialysis..
I am a traveling hemodialysis nurse. I only do chronics. I have worked for the big 3 and DCI.. IMHO stay away from DCI they treat their own help badly.. When I was in Carson City last year they only had one perm staff.. Now they have all travelers.. And they made it so hard on a traveler with the company that I work for she left. She had a perfect record from pervious assingments , excellent references and they told the company she was not qualified. Did the same thing to me last year.
I think all 3 of the Biggies are about the same. I've always said if you find the perfect job please let me know I want to go with you..
I work with Fresenius 2008H and K Althin's and Cobe3.. Would love to learn the Phoenix..
As an ICU nurse, the only dialysis that we do is CVVH, which is tricky in and of itself... we use the PRISMA and the Baxter machines for this. Each have their own quirks.
We have Dialysis nurses from the in-house HD unit come to the unit for our chronic dialysis patients... they use the COBE.
The best advice I can give is to become very familiar with as many machines as possible. And as WanderingRN said... the machine is only 15% of the process... so master the process as well.
2001, Fresenius payscale in Cincinnati, Ohio was $19-25/hr and 5 weeks vacation every year until year 5 when you got 6 weeks vacation, then at 10 years you max out at 7 weeks vacation every year, $1 more an hour for charge pay, $2 more an hour for evening shift "IF" the bulk of your shift was after 5pm, OT/holidays at time and a half, occassionally offers a bonus to pick up a non scheduled weekend shift.
2004, Gambro tells me they are paying me "above" the payscale as PT/PRN @ $26.70/hr, charge pay $1/hr additional AFTER the dayshift charge leaves, shift diff $0.50/hr additional "IF" the shift doesnt end until 8:30pm... and we're usually done by 7:30... which is why they only get one day a week of my time... and PT/PRN doesnt get vacation time... but the full timers get about 4 weeks vacation every year... OT/holidays at time and a half, occasionally a bonus for picking up a non scheduled holiday shift.
2002, DCI...had to negotiate a payrate of $23.02, charge pay was $1/hr additional, shift diff was $1/hr additional, 2 weeks vacation per year, insurance...they are self insured and reject ALL claims... OT paid at time and a half, holidays are paid at time and a half FOR 8 HOURS ONLY, even if you are a 12 hour person...what are bonuses?!?!?
in cincinnati, if you want to get paid anything, agency is the only way to go...
New Dialysis nurse starting in April.....been doing critical care......can't wait for the change seems like all who go into dialysis stay there....I will be doing acute/chronic in a hospital setting.....can't wait until I understand all the machines you guys are mentioning right now all sounds like chinease
THis is new to me... not sure how to navigate around... HOw do I get the word out that we are in desperate need of nurses at our centers in Leesburg, Florida????!!!!
Hi cdmhnut welcome to the forums. I was just up in Leesburg for the biker thing a couple of months ago. Got caught in that miserable rainstorm on Saturday out in the national forest. You have one nice little town there. Very hospitable. My wife who also rides and myself are probably going up there for a long weedend this summer.
I am not a professional recruiter, but I am a professional assisting in the recruitment process, knowing that there is a great need here. Are both you and your wife RNs?? If you will be coming for a weekend this summer, we would sure like to meet you. Give us a call 352.728.1153.
I think it's wonderful this board is available!
(pay, working conditions, hrs, benefits). Any info would be greatly appreciated. Baxter's all I know; I was a Machine Queen. It's going to be hard to get used to Fresenius.