Acutes

[dialysisnurseLC]

Are the acutes really as horrible as people say it is?? I currently work chronic in center dialysis and I know one acute nurse who sometimes comes to help our unit out and she talks of acutes as being hell on earth lol. She says that you are always on call but as an LPN you will be the first person to go home if things get slow. She also says your day starts early but you never know when it ends.. You could go home after working 16 hrs, go to sleep then get called in again. I love dialysis and have been doing it for 2 years but I am thinking of doing something else within the dialysis world after I get my RN license ( currently an LPN in a bridge program) I also work hospice PRN. I guess I don't k ow what I want to do after school because I won't neccesarily have to do crisis care with hospice after my role changes.

[jschut, BSN, RN]

I am still in training, however, when compete, I will be working acutes. I realize I will be on call frequently, but I have faith that I am going to love my job. SO I appreciate the positives that you are all talking about.

[Guttercat, ASN, RN]

I was one of 3 nurses for a while at a small hospital, one of those being my manager. So, I was on call 3-4 days a week. My problem with it is, I like to run, I am a foodie (out to eat), I like to go to the beach, I like to drink wine, I like to go on day trips.. Etc.. The only safe thing to do while on call is to sit at home, by the phone, clean and showered. I've gotten called in while on a run, while at the grocery store, while on the way to Sunday brunch, while at the pool, while at a restaurant, and while dead asleep. Of course when I sit at home and wait, no one ever calls. I can't see myself doing long term. I like my freedom and I like to be out and about and active while not at work.

On call 3-4 days/wk???

No thanks.

Just because you're not "physically at the job site" doesn't mean squat.

I can't tell you the number of mornings I woke up panicking, thinking maybe I missed a call from the ER. Sleeping with one eye open...

...pretty much any time I was on call, I did exactly what you so eloquently stated: sit at home by the phone, clean and showered.

And, since I lived forty minutes from the job site, well, set-up/tear-down plus tx-time, plus drive-time...and getting called out at 2300 was a seven hour shift.

Still, acute dialysis is the bomb. Loved it.

[NurseRies, BSN, RN]

On call 3-4 days/wk???

No thanks.

Just because you're not "physically at the job site" doesn't mean squat.

I can't tell you the number of mornings I woke up panicking, thinking maybe I missed a call from the ER. Sleeping with one eye open...

...pretty much any time I was on call, I did exactly what you so eloquently stated: sit at home by the phone, clean and showered.

And, since I lived forty minutes from the job site, well, set-up/tear-down plus tx-time, plus drive-time...and getting called out at 2300 was a seven hour shift.

Still, acute dialysis is the bomb. Loved it.

Well, since it was a small community hospital, I took half the call. The doctors knew to send the stat cases downtown, but every few months you'd get someone come in at 6pm with a K of 7, couldn't wait. Either that or the line placement took all day and since I was on call that night, I had to stay. Yes, I love acutes, but 1-2 days a week of call is MORE then enough!!

[Coleebee]

I am about to make the switch form Chronics to Acutes. It will be a hospital based unit, not one of the big providers. I will be working with RN's (no PCT's), 3 12's a week and 1 night on call a week. I am looking forward to getting back into the acute/critical care side of it. Chronics, while great for the experience and training (helped me relaize that I LOVED Dialysis as a specialty), I definitely miss the autonomy.

[nwhiker]

Just going to acute from chronic after 5 years. SO what type of pay difference is there? I'm not sure what to negotiate? Any help would be appreciated, it'll be in california. Excited for the change!

[TEXASWAG, MSN, RN]

Well, I would not accept less pay than what you're getting now. Try using google or bing for an average salary in Cali. In Texas, pay for acutes can easily range from $30-33/hr. When I negotiated my salary, I stressed certain facts such as having my BSN, certification, ACLS, etc. Good luck to ya.