Emergency Department to Dialysis

[ErinRN84]

I work in an acting level trauma ER that serves 13 counties. The closest competitive hospital is 50 mikes away. I have been battling burn-out for several years and mono (Epstein Barr Virus) for a year. I have had to use FMLA (continuous and intermittent) over this last year to keep my job and try to get better. I have finally decided that it is no longer good for me or my coworkers to stay employed in the ER because it is just too exhausting: physically, mentally, and emotionally. One or two 8 hour shifts (3pm-11pm) flares up my the mono and I need usually two-three days to recover.

I applied, interviewed, and will be shadowing at Davita Dialysis. I need advice and reassurance that I will be ableto hack this possible new job. What is the workload like? What exactly do the RNs do in a 10 hour shift? We all have different perceptions of "physically demanding" is.

How many miles do you walk in 1 shift? I walk approximately 5 in eight hours in the ER.

How often do you sit, stand, crouch, crawl, strain or contort your body to accomplish a task?

How mentally draining is it? How many times in an hour do you stress and mentally strain to make the best prioritization decision?

How many directions are pulled in at once? What do patient's, families, boss, coworkers, and physicians expect you to accomplish in each hour's time?

[wanna b]

I graduated in 2012, and got a job in the ED right after school. I worked there for alittle over 1 yr and left because the level of stress is crazy. I learned so much and and I am so glad I got that experience. I now work in dialysis (out pt clinic in NY). I was a dialysis tech for 18 yrs and understand both RN and tech issues. I love dialysis but it is challenging in the beginning but does get easy as in any other job. Just remember never stop thinking as to what CAN happen to the pt and always think WHAT ELSE can I do to improve the pt overall well-being and the unit as well. Be a leader not a follower and do what you were taught to do in school and from your edu in-service. Chart the way you were taught to chart and don't get lazy with it because your licenses depends on it. Remember when the **** hits the fan they are coming after YOU the RN first.

[NDXUFan]

Erin:

It is not worth your health. You might want to think about working in Home Dialysis, much less stressful. When I was on In-center, I did all of my care, along with the needle sticking. Yet, I was the only patient who did that routine. I even asked the clinic if they would teach me how to run the machine by myself. I would love to have you as my nurse. Not sure if you are married and have kids, I offer free rent, food, and a very, very easy job, as I do all of the work. You would just be there if there was a problem. You could even sleep while I was on the machine, if you wanted. No, we would not do the night shift :) I worked nights for years and no, we would not be doing that. You would only really help me once or twice per year, if I was sick, it is rare.