Considering to apply for dialysis nurse position.

lovesongajp · Jun 28, 2015

I'm considering this also. I've worked med/surg for the past 3 years and I'm really hoping to find something dayshift outside of a bedside hospital nursing role.

Twinmom06, ASN, APN · Jun 29, 2015

I just accepted a dialysis position on Friday and once off of orientation will be 4 10 hour days.

lovesongajp · Jun 29, 2015

Congrats!!! Have you worked in dialysis before? What will your orientation be like? What hours will you be working? Sorry for all the questions!

SmilingBluEyes · Jun 30, 2015

Depends on the clinic. Where I work, dayshift is 0515 to 1400. Evenings 1345-2300, and we have a nocturnal shift as well, 7pm to 7am. Some clinics have open dayshift positions; ours does not. But even working evening shift is better to me than straight 12 hour night shifts. Good luck.

Twinmom06, ASN, APN · Jul 1, 2015

I will be doing inpatient acutes so I'm not sure what the hours will be...I'm assuming 7-5 or 8-6

malestunurse · Jul 2, 2015

Our acute dialysis unit has the same shifts as SmilingBluEyes. You cannot get away from shift work!

Eleven011 · Jul 4, 2015

When I worked at an outpatient dialysis center we had two nurse shifts and they were 6a-3 or 9a-6. Every other saturday.

bugya90, ASN, BSN, LVN, RN · Jul 4, 2015

I'm not a dialysis nurse however my older sister is a nurse manager in a dialysis clinic. They work four 10 hour shifts with rotating Saturday's. Normally every third Saturday, sometimes every other Saturday if someone is on vacation. They are closed on Sunday's. They start the first patient around 0530 and try to have the last patient out by 1800. Very seldomly is there any OT.

NurseRies, BSN, RN · Jul 4, 2015

It all depends ... I have worked for a few different places and companies from being a traveler. In acutes, it's almost always 12 + hour shifts. Usually 6am-6pm plus some on call 1-3 times a week depending on size of unit. I've done 8am-8pm for one program and occasionally 10-10. Again, there's always overnight on call requirements with acutes. I'm usually out late a few times a month and occasionally I'm up all night.

Chronic varies widely also. Some clinics do 5 8 hour day, but you will work some Saturday's, and ist not necessarily day shift, could be evenings like 11-7:30. I used to work 4 10s, which I absolutely loved. It was 5:30am-4:30pm with 2 breaks in there and sometimes we'd go home early. Some clinics are only open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and they do 12-14 hour shifts. Usually a variety, someone does 4am-4pm, then 6-6, 7-7, 9-9.. Etc.

One thing I can guarantee is early mornings. Also unpredictability in acutes. We work until our work is done. Your patient is delayed because they're in PACU ? You wait until they're back and then do the 4 hour treatment, so you could work 6am-8:30pm with maybe a small break at lunch.

Dialysis has a reputation for being a cake job or something to retire into. That is a huge misconception. The outpatient is exhausting, non stop busy work. And the acute side is completely unpredictable and leads to burnout fast.

jrt4 · Jul 9, 2015

Our dialysis center nurses do 4 10 hour shifts. There is some call for nights/weekends. They are looking for a clinical manager...chicagoland area if interested. Great pay and benefits. I am not sure about other centers.

Anna S, RN · Jul 11, 2015

I float between acutes, and chonics, and take call. Last week, I did an 18 hr shift in acutes, no break. I am a tired, aching feet, sore back dialysis nurse.