Davita - Should I take it/should I not????

Specialties Urology

Published

Any Davita/Dialysis nurses out there? I am a new nurse who has been offered an RN staff position with Davita. They said they will give me full training etc and once working I may be have about 12 patients under my care (which is what the state says it safe).

I have never worked in dialysis before so am not fully up to speed on what complications etc could occur during the dialysis procedure and wonder whether 12 is a realistic number, and whether I should take it...any ideas/comments???????????

;)You couldn't pay me enough to go back there, I'd pay them to leave me alone.

1 Votes
BellaCerraRN said:
As a charge nurse you may have 12 patients but you will also have a secondary nurse and at least 2 techs backing you up.

Depends on the state and the facility- many times, 12 chair units have only one licensed staff on duty for a full house.

1 Votes

Why does it seem that everyone dislikes this company?! I have heard wonderful things from people where I live that's why I accepted the job. Should be starting next week... On this website it just seems like people have it out for this place and I just want to know why!!!

1 Votes
Specializes in jack of all trades.
Niecystewka_RN said:
Why does it seem that everyone dislikes this company?! I have heard wonderful things from people where I live that's why I accepted the job. Should be starting next week... On this website it just seems like people have it out for this place and I just want to know why!

I heard "wonderful things" also until I accepted the job and worked there for 11 months. It's called "Recruitment bonus"! Ideally if you luck out at a facility with an FA that is willing to put his/herself on the line regarding staffing and budget or willing to challenge the SWC/profit margin then it's not an issue. If this is the case they won't be an FA for long there. Also if you dont mind being precepted by a PCT (forget being someone with a license most of the time) and job roles too gray to be safe (Techs run the show). Davita only permits 1 official preceptor per facility and they get a bonus for every one they precept. Now they have started retention bonuses because they cant keep staff in most facilities. Big question to ask "How long has your RN's been on staff" as they have a huge turnover rate. I was charge nurse every time I worked from one week PRIOR to getting off orientation, usually the only licensed in the building and worked 16 hours with 16 chairs, 3 full shifts and only 2 techs most of the time. I dont mean due to call outs either but intention scheduling short routinely. I took pts, gave all the meds, did ALL the assessments, etc. I beat my head in the wall for 11 months and I am a very seasoned RN of over 25 years (28 to be exact). My blood pressure was off the chain. It was the worse place I have ever encountered and that was a total of 4 facilities in my area I became very familar with. Yes thier "Academy" is one of the best but when that's done then it's no holds barred when it comes to the bottom dollar the gloves come off. I heard "Every dialysis clinic is like this" Well I left for another company and low and behold "IT IS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE". I loved the first 3 months then I began to absolutely hate thinking about having to go in the next day. Now I actually enjoy going to my facitily and never feel like I'm putting my license on the line every time I walk in door. Of course it's not a Davita facility. I literally would scrub toilets before ever going back. Best decision I ever made professionally was Leaving!!:angryfire

1 Votes

Totally agree, worst job I ever had. Understaffing, 18 hour days, being the only licensed person in the building, a reuse tech that used to float between 3 different facilities, and being rationed Epogen was enough. I was reprimanded for using more then 2 bandaids on a pt, I changed gloves too much, therefore WASTING them, I put out too many supplies when I restocked, it was ridiculous. I would get docked for lunches I never took. Turn over was a nightmare, machines were not being cleaned properly, chairs weren't wiped down, blood spills were not being cleaned up. I would do everything I could, then I said no more, I cannot do everything myself. I gave my notice and then the tables turned, I was seen as NOT a team player, not following "The Davita Way". I felt sorry for the pts, Davita was the only game in town. My health suffered so bad due to no sleep, long hours and too many people in isolation snorting and snotting all over me. I ended up with pneumonia, pleurisy,and a cough so severe I cracked ribs. I spent many days in the ER getting resp tx with sats in the 80's. My manager told me straight out there was nothing wrong with me and I was abandoning my fellow workers. (We had other workers?) They were vile to me. I know they say don't burn your bridges, but I blew them up. I would not give any of those maggots the sweat off my behind. I too would proudly scrub toilets before ever going back there.

1 Votes
Specializes in NICU.

I want to hear positive stories about DaVita...

1 Votes
jawh7b said:
I want to hear positive stories about DaVita...

These dialysis companies are just like a grocery store. The store you love your neighbor hates. It all depends on the unit itself. You either get a good one or you don't.

1 Votes
Specializes in Med Surg, Home Health, Dialysis, Tele.
jawh7b said:
I want to hear positive stories about davita...

take the advice from the people who have worked at davita...do a search on davita and mostly you will see bad mouthing davita, because it is true. sometimes a applicant can't see things as they are because you may not know what to look for. but in the only year I worked at davita about 10 people came and went. and since I resigned, the only other RN is putting in her notice, the 2 techs who have been there the longest are looking for another job, and the lvn is leaving. that should tell you something. why is it that while I was still employed I was reading some posts, I thought that sounds just like my clinic, in fact I thought it was another nurse at my clinic posting. come to find out it was a davita but not in the same area. coincidence? I think not!:banghead:

1 Votes
Specializes in Float Pool, Hemo Dialysis.

Run....don't walk, the other way! I should have listened to my gut and quit the third day working at the clinic. It certainly sounds like alot of these clinics are run the same. Reading the posts sounds just like where I work.

Davita is a for profit company and cares about no one but the bottom line. The turn-over is great b/c the training is minimal and the responsibilty is great.

Go somewhere and get a year of med-surg experience and soak up as much knowledge as you can. Take every oppurtunity possible. Think positive, and thanks for joining the team. Good luck!

1 Votes
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