Harriet Carpenter, RN,+ was busy—too busy to worry about record keeping. To the travel nurse who practiced obstetrics (OB) on a short stay unit (is there anything else these days?), it seemed that every pregnant woman in the county decided to have her baby that night. Among Harriet's first admissions was a 35-year-old married woman, gravida II, para 0, who had a history of eclampsia. The patient was in active labor about 6 weeks prematurely, and upon admission, her blood pressure was 185 over 98. She also had stage 3 pitting edema in both extremities. Both the woman and her baby were to be fully monitored.

I have requested a free subscription to Healthcare Traveler and would also like to take advantage of your free e-mail offer. How may I do this? ? Tracy M.

My name is Ruth Borman*, and I have worked as a traveler for almost 20 years. I love to take care of people. Often, I work nights because people who are in trouble don't sleep well, and they're glad to talk to someone.

Q: I just found out that I'm able to renew my CEN credential through continuing education units (CEUs) and am searching for some seminars in California between July 1 and September 1. Can you help me?

I am 47, married, and have children aged 13 and 15. I'm seriously looking into nursing as my (final) career and am quite interested in being a traveler after my kids are out the door. Right now, I'm taking prerequisites and scouting programs. Are any particular specialties more in demand than others for travelers? Thanks. - Carol

What makes a traveler a traveler? You can"t receive housing stipends or tax-free per diems if you"re in your "tax home" city, can you? And if your company provides such options, you are liable to claim the earnings as an untaxed income that you will later have to pay taxes on, right? - Hannah V.

Mary Batlin*, a 58-year-old woman, developed polycystic kidney disease (PKD) in her 30s. After years of treatment, she went into kidney failure 24 months ago and has been on dialysis ever since. Happily married, Mary is the mother of five children. Her youngest son, Brian, just turned 18. This fact is important for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that Brian is the only one of the children who has the same blood type as his mother.

The experts say one should never use the term 'futile care,' and most especially not around families. Care is never futile, but medical interventions sometimes are. And that is the point: How do you know for sure that further medical care is futile? When you do know, how do you communicate this to patients and families? And, finally, in the face of inevitable death, how do you provide care that comforts and soothes, that prepares families for loss, while it helps patients leave life with their dignity and hope intact? Most of all, how do you do this in today's busy, bottomline-driven institution?

Are any particular companies specific to rural travel RN jobs? - Carmen