PD nurse leaving but don't have replacement

[Sydnee]

On Tuesday when Ed went to the clinic for his monthly blood draw he was told by his PD nurse that she will be moving to Florida on the 22nd of this month.
The next clinic day is the 19th so she'll be there, but at this point we don't know how will be taking over for her. The nurse that was training with her; off the hemo floor, for the last 3 months is not the one taking over. Ed was told the reason was "it's just not good timing". They are currently looking/hiring for the position. 
Not sure how we feel about her moving, but I am sure I don't like the fact we don't know who will replace her. From our experience the PD nurse almost seems more important then the doctor.       

[Joe]

I agree with you completely. Since I started PD a year and a half ago, I've seen almost 100% turnover in the PD staff. All but one of the nurses I started with are gone. Not sure why there is such a turnover on the PD side, unless it's because our small, independent dialysis center got bought out by Fresinius on June 1st last year...

[billybags]

When our nurse of 3 years retired last July I was really upset. Its as though a member of our family was going away. We were given a replacement and she is lovely. She is younger, not that it makes a difference, she is so up to date on things and goes out of her way to explain things and is always on hand. We loved the other one, but  we also love this one. Hope you get some one nice.

[drgirlfriend]

No sooner had I read your post than the boyfriend's pd nurse said he was moving to CA! I blame you, Sydnee! I keed.... This is a minor emergency for us since he was the only nurse the boyfriend would work with (don't ask...). He was amazing and will be sorely missed. I pray that his replacement arrives quickly and is at least half as smart. There are only 2 pd nurses at our clinic.

[lmunchkin]

Yeap, big PD nurse turnovers at our clinic too (Fresc).  One time, we were not on PD, but the PD nurse was out and no one to do her appointments.  Well, another nurse, took vitals and all.  Put she did not do any disconnects or anything like that. Looking back, it seems we had more questions & concerns when he did PD.  We were always calling after hours!  I thank God those nurses were there when we needed them.

What kind of answer is "its just not good timing"?  What the heck does timing have to do with it? I don't understand that explanation at all.

lmunchkin

[Sydnee]

This is a small clinic (Fresenius) we only had 1 pd nurse she had just finished training to be a home hemo nurse. I don't know how many patients are on pd but until January of this year they were all seen on the same day for "clinic days" so it can't be all that many people.

I'm not sure about the "it's just not good timing" is about but I know that the clinic is getting ready to move to a brand new building. They hired some new staff for after the move.

[lmunchkin]

Yea there are rumors at our clinic about some new building possibly in the future.  They really have had a hard time recently keeping a full staff.  I did notice about 5 new Dell computers in boxes.  I wonder who is paying for that?  lol

I personally wish that we who do dialysis at home could do the monthly work ups in the Nephs office.  They can do the work ups there.  I just never understood why.  Any body here know why?  I understand  the use for In-centers, but for those of us who do it at home, why not the Nephs office, and eliminate the clinic?

Just curious, that's all.

God Bless,
lmunchkin

[Whamo]

Nurses in short supply are recruited by agencies.   They lure them away with money.  My wife is a charge nurse, and she sees nurse leave, and come back, because the working conditions at her hospital are better than the others, even though they pay less.  My PD nurse says her division makes the hospital money, and the hemo patients do not.  With the coming medical cutbacks, I think they're going to make "incentives" for hemo patients to go PD.

[drgirlfriend]

I didn't know that about revenues for PD vs hemo. I always read that most patients are pushed toward hemo. Maybe that's because a lot of dialysis patients are elderly?

Having checkups in the clinic is probably for convenience. I know that our neph goes to other clinics - I don't know how many - so it could be a volume thing. For us, having the checkup at the clinic is a nice "one stop shopping" experience: talk to the neph, get epo shot, get supplies that the warehouse no longer handles, and ask questions of the nutritionist, social worker and anyone else there.

[lmunchkin]

Yea, I guess getting out in the public, is not a bad thing every now and then!

Nurses in short supply are recruited by agencies.   They lure them away with money.  My wife is a charge nurse, and she sees nurse leave, and come back, because the working conditions at her hospital are better than the others, even though they pay less.  My PD nurse says her division makes the hospital money, and the hemo patients do not.  With the coming medical cutbacks, I think they're going to make "incentives" for hemo patients to go PD.

My husband can no longer do PD.  Too many lesions & infections involved. It was not the best option for him due to his diabeties.  I remember his BS being so hard to control while on PD.   But PD is great, because it is done at home & does help other ESRd out alot.  I had no problems doing PD on him.  Back in the day, lifting those heavy bags were a "stinker" and finding proper place for all those boxes.  But as far as being able to dialysis at home, it was good!

Even if John could, I don't believe he would do it again.  He is getting the cleaning he needs on Hemo. It is working better for his needs.

God Bless,
lmunchkin

[Tío Riñon]

It is up to you, the patient, to coordinate with your team to make this process work for you!  Since I work full-time, I explained to my team that I can't afford to take off a half day every month to meet for a half hour to discuss my condition.  Should I get ill or need to take off time for a family member, I will have many fewer days available.  My nephrologist arranged to meet me at his practice office at a mutually convenient time. 

For my EPO and other labs, I actually vary between the 3 clinics in our metro area depending upon which fits into my schedule each week based on travel time and openings.

Finally, I communicate with my team (nurse, dietitian, and social worker) via e-mail in addition to the clinic visits.  We can exchange information at a time that is convenient for each person.

Through discussion and coordination with your team, you can make PD fit your life and not vice versa.

Having checkups in the clinic is probably for convenience. I know that our neph goes to other clinics - I don't know how many - so it could be a volume thing. For us, having the checkup at the clinic is a nice "one stop shopping" experience: talk to the neph, get epo shot, get supplies that the warehouse no longer handles, and ask questions of the nutritionist, social worker and anyone else there.

[Sydnee]

I wish our clinic and neph would be so helpful. Ed works full time too. The neph would let us come to his office for a visit but the clinic says we have to come to clinic. There are only two nephs in town they are both part of the same practice only one dialysis clinic. The next nearest neph and d center is an hour and a half away.

[Sydnee]

Today was clinic day.
Even though the old pd nurse told Ed she would still be there on clinic day she wasn't.
They are having 3 different nurses come up from Fort Collins CO on a rotating bases. Sounds like we might not have a pd nurse for quite a while.
The bright side was clinic took less than an hour, it usually took more than 2 and 1/2 hours.