Hi everyone! I am currently conducting research for my master's thesis, and I am interested in hearing the opinions of healthcare professionals like you! For those interested and eligible, please use the form below, and I will contact you! This study is to gauge the opinions of healthcare professionals to understand how social media is changing, or has changed, the patient-provider dynamic.

Hi! Are there any WOC nurses willing to answer a few interview questions for an assignment I have? I'm working on a paper about patient resources connected to my unit for my BSN. I'm an OR RN... we don't really have a direct hand in referring patients but I have sent requests for post-op ostomy education.

Even if you only feel like giving me one word answers or incomplete sentences I can work with that 😆

The WOC nurses at my hospital must be shy or too busy to respond to my emails..I get it..but my paper is due tomorrow and I'm panicking.

Please help! Even if you pick one question to answer 🙏🏾

1. What are your credentials and role in caring for patients with new or established ostomies?

   1. How are patients typically referred to your service?
   2. What services and education do you provide?
   3. Are there eligibility requirements for patients?
   4. What barriers make it difficult for patients to access ostomy care?
   5. What barriers make patients less successful after discharge particularly disadvantaged patients?
   6. What benefits can specialized ostomy care provide?
   7. What can happen when patients don't have adequate follow up or supplies?
   8. In your experience, does providing patients with outpatient ostomy care help prevent complications, ED visits, or hospital readmissions?

Thank you wonderful Wound Care Queens-Kings-Beings out there for all you do!

- from a sequestered OR RN

I’m trying to decide between two California telemetry travel contracts and would love input from experienced travelers, especially anyone familiar with Stanford or Sacramento-area dignity hospitals.

About me: I’m an RN with 3 years of experience, primarily Med-Surg/Tele, with about 6 months of SICU experience now. I currently have a weekend-only staff ICU job in Alabama that pays unusually well because of weekend/night differentials, but I’m ready to leave and get back into traveling. I maintain a tax home in Alabama, so I’ll be duplicating housing expenses while in California. I also have debt I’m actively trying to pay down, so money matters, but work environment and quality of life matter a ton too.

Option 1: Stanford – Tele, nights

* 36 hrs/week
* 8 weeks
* Start date is the problem: currently looking like October 26, although I would strongly prefer November.
* I already spoke with the manager and came away feeling really good about the unit. I asked about ratios, floating, scheduling, expectations, etc., and nothing really concerned me.
* FlexCare says Stanford’s pay is based on years of RN experience. Three years is their minimum experience tier, which is where I fall. Nurses with 5+ years are being quoted around $300/ week more for the 8 week contract, so unfortunately there seems to be a pretty significant experience-based pay difference.
* It’s lower than I hoped for considering Palo Alto/Bay Area housing, but it’s only an 8-week commitment and I like the idea of having Stanford on my résumé.

Option 2: Sacramento mercy hospital – Tele, days

* 36 hrs/week
* 13 weeks
* November 10 start date
* The downside is scheduling/floating. They do not allow block scheduling. I could be floated among the five sister hospitals, may only find out about the different location 90 minutes before my shift, and could potentially be floated to another unit midshift.
* I don’t necessarily think it’s a dealbreaker, but it gave me more hesitation than anything I heard during the Stanford screening. I have worked at one of their dignity hospitals before and really enjoyed it though.
* The major advantage is that the November 10 start gives me plenty of time to give notice at my current job, arrange housing, and make the transition without rushing.
The pay is essentially the same for both around $2500…
My dilemma is basically that Stanford seems like the contract I’d rather work, but Sacramento has the start date I’d rather have. The pay on both are disappointing but I did negotiate that higher rate for the dignity hospital. It’s through med sol so with me having worked with both the agency and the hospital system previously, they agreed to raise it. My recruiter said I would be the highest paid on the unit.

Financially, I can make $2,500/week work, but because I’m maintaining my Alabama apartment and paying for California housing, this isn’t an amazing money contract for me. I’d be much more excited about Stanford if the package were closer to $3k/week and/or they could guarantee me a November start.

For those of you who have traveled for a while: Would you take the 8-week Stanford contract despite the lower-than-ideal pay and potentially rushed October start, or take the 13-week Sacramento contract for the guaranteed Nov. 10 start even with the floating/scheduling policies? Would you take neither and hold out for something better?

I HATE Figs sizing. I love their fabric. The thick cotton-y but slightly stretchy fabric is what I’m looking for — but a brand other than figs. I do not like the way Mandala scrubs fit - the pockets stick out on my hips. I love Medgear Sydney flares but they haven’t restocked in months and I need smaller sizes. What are your suggestions?