How to get out of dialysis nursing?

Specialties Urology

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Can anyone give me some suggestions on how to get out of dialysis nursing. I have been a dialysis nurse most of my career. I don't want to do this anymore. I respect the hard work and value of dialysis nurses, but for me after 25 years of nursing, mostly dialysis, I think I want something with less stress.

However, I don't see a job market friendly to hiring someone who has performed dialysis nursing as long as I have. Of course, working with dialysis patients, I have been exposed to adults and some adolescents with numerous co-morbidities and health related issues, but my resumes still has years of dialysis nursing and employers focus on this. I've been a nurse for a long time, but I also started very young so I don't think age is the main issue with me finding other employment. I don't really want to take on a part time job to add experience, because my dialysis job is stressful enough and I have to take call on weekends. But still, I'm willing to consider any suggestions you think may help me get out of dialysis nursing. I would prefer to work in an outpatient area and this is what I have been applying for but so far no luck. I'm willing to take a pay cut or work part time. I have worked all areas in dialysis nursing and do not wish to change positions within dialysis.

Specializes in Corrections, neurology, dialysis.

Wow. I could have written this post. I am also trying to get out of dialysis. I hate to because I really love my job. It is challenging at times, but for my purposes the good outweighs the bad. The problem is I'm sick of the hours. I work acutes and our shifts are crazy, we have to take call a couple of times a week and I never know when I'm going to be home. I can't particpate in any social functions because I can never predict if I'll be available or not. It was okay for a long time, but now I feel like my life is out of balance.

I, too, am finding it hard to get hired anywhere. I hate to admit it, but those people who said I should start in med-surg, were right. I wish I had done something else before I got to dialysis, because now I can't get out.

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Ladies....have some confidence! Once you have done dialysis for awhile you are able to learn and do MANY things!!

How cool is it that we are in a profession that allows us to move around among specialties? Just go for anything that interests you. Take some seminars, ACLS, and explore.......you can do ANYTHING1

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Specializes in Corrections, neurology, dialysis.

I have all the confidence. I am also ACLS certified. How do I get someone to hire me?

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I'm getting burned out and sick of dialysis too. I been in it for five years. I feel like I need a change. I can't imagine doing this for the rest of my life. I enjoy it but I want a change. Is that so bad?

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Specializes in Dialysis.

Dialysis is all I know. I started out as a chronic unit PCT and worked for 4 years. I have now been an LVN in the same unit for 3 years. I am almost done with my RN (thru Excelsior) and am wondering wth I'm going to do. I know I will have to stay in dialysis for at least a year for the pay and the "RN" experience to put on my resume. If I was to start as an RN somewhere else, I'd probably only make 26/hr. Maybe. But if I stay at my clinic, I'll get paid closer to 29/hr. I really want to try post-partum. The hospital that my mom works at has free on-site daycare program. I feel really loyal to my boss, she's helped me the whole way. But I really want to see what else is out there. I'm getting tired of dialysis!!

I want to explore!!!!

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Specializes in Organ Procurement Coordinator, ICU.

Both are really stressful. I was an Organ Procurement Coordinator for many years and it's sad and emotional, but in nursing (or healthcare anything for that matter!) there is no job that isn't stressful, sad, or emotional. So we pick the one we can get along with best or we get out of it!

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It's the same for me, I kind of pigeon-holed myself into the dialysis specialty and have applied for other jobs but no luck. I work in acutes and I do love it, never get bored with it because you don't have the same day twice. Stressful... Yes! What helped me is I cut down the hours I work. That combined with low census days has helped tremendously. I still get benefits. If you are willing to take a $10/hr pay cut, maybe cutting down hours will be the break you need and you will find you still do like dialysis. After doing it for so long you are an expert and have so much to offer! Cutting down hours helped me clear my head a bit and now I have a much better work/life balance.

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Specializes in Nephrology.

Move to an acute team and make friends with people in one of the hospital you will cover, then parlay that into a job.

Any that already work acutes make some friends, impress some nurse mangers.

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Specializes in Dialysis.

Anyone that thinks that dialysis nursing limits them in employment opportunities is undervaluing what dialysis nurses do. Many nurse managers and too many non dialysis nurses do not understand what we do. That is partly our fault but we need to learn how to accurately describe what our specialty is and empahasize the unique qualities we bring to the table. We incorporate all of the nursing process and we know how to troubleshoot mechanical devices. We deal with patients who are hemodynamicaly unstable. We identify problems and attempt to fix them. This is a valuable skill. All the med surg experience in the world could not give you these talents.

As far as the micro managing comments I think our profession has been invaded by "process" people. This happened in the manufacturing industry with Taylor in the early 20th century. The making of a product was deconstructed by experts who reasoned that each part of the process could be tasked to the lowest cost worker. The assembly line was born. This becomes nightmarish when applied to healthcare but these "experts" have taken over upper management in most hospitals. My current director of nursing brags about her ignorance of hemodialysis but assures us she is a process person. Naturally she doesn't understand why every dialysis treatment doesn't take the 3.279 hours her expert opinion tells her it should take.

I find it useful to know every state and federal regulation concerning dialysis and be able to quote them on demand. CMS rules scare them. State inspections scare them. Appeals to conscience are futile because these people have none. It's all about the bottom line. I also try to educate patients to the rules because they are they to protect them, to provide at least a basic minimum of safety. Knowledge IS power.

I do wish you luck in your quest to leave dialysis and I think if you are persistent you will succeed, just don't undervalue what your dialysis experience gives you in the marketplace.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Acute/Chronic Hemodialysis.

We must work at the same place. I have been in HD for 18 years and I would love to just walk out right now. I won't do that, but I am looking for a change of scenery as well.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Nephrology, Emergency Medicine.

I have been doing Dialysis now for 2 years, it is time for a change of scenery. It does not matter if it is for outpatient or acutes. I am ready to run screaming! I love my patients, but the "suits" aka process people are making it impossible to take care of my patients.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Dialysis.

I have been doing home dialysis for 3 years and I am getting really tired of it, too many managers, on call all the time, I never get away from my job left early today and must have gotten 5 text messages from managers, I am thinking about rehab nursing, just want something when I leave for the day I am done no one will be calling me!!

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