Is this what being an RN in dialysis is like?

Specialties Urology

Published

Well, this is my first RN job and I don't really know what to think. I started working in a 24 chair facility. We do two shifts a day, Monday through Saturday. The first part of my training has been learning the tech's job. I'm out of training now and either work as a float RN or have a station of 4 patients. The days I work vary but the hours are all over the place. Sometimes I'm in at 4 am, others at 5, then sometimes 6am, depending if I'm running a station or floating.

I'm being told that after about 6 months from my hire date I'll be a charge nurse. The charge nurse sometimes has to help put patient's on and take them off, depending on staffing.

I feel like I am a chicken running around with my head cut off. I am so tired by the end of my shift that I can barely walk when I get home. My feet hurt constantly, even on my days off. I need to exercise on my days off but I'm usually so tired trying to recover from work I simply don't have the energy. I bought a great pair of work shoes but I'm still dog tired and my feet kill me.

Going in at 5am one day, 4am the next, 6am the other is wrecking havoc on my sleep. The charge nurses usually come in at 5am so at least that would be consistent.

Does it get better? One day I feel like I'm doing great, then the next I forget to do something and the day goes down hill. Why is change over such a nightmare? We're given 15 minutes between patients to get them weighed, assessed, etc, and put on the machine. Lord help you if they have to be moved to the chair using a lift. There are maybe 2 people I work with that can get someone on in that time; they've been doing this job for several years. And that's if everything goes right with the patient.

Coworkers are scared to death to call in sick, so they come in when they shouldn't. They all say they don't want to get chewed out. I understand some people abuse taking off. I've been told by my coworkers if I call in to have a doctor's note ready to hand in.

I chose dialysis because I liked that it was a small work-place setting where you don't feel you get lost in the crowd at say a big hospital. From day one the people I work with have told me "give it at least 6 months" so I'm trying. And most everyone I work with has been wonderful and very helpful. But I have found myself the past few days not wanting to go to work and that's not me. Sorry if this sounds whiney. This is only the tip of the iceberg with my questions/concerns about my chosen career and employer. Just wondering what I got myself into.

Specializes in Dialysis, Facility Administrator.
This sounds a lot like what I do on a daily basis!!! Organization is key as well.... Now I am in school for my RN (I'm currently an LPN) I ❤dialysis .. It's perfect for People with ADHD lol

I love it too!! :D

Specializes in Dialysis, Facility Administrator.

Oh!! And I started as an LPN in dialysis too!!! I graduated with my RN this past May.

I believe there is job security in dialysis. It's so specialized that any other nurse can't just walk in & take over. I'm concerned as to what obama care will do for dialysis reimbursement.

Specializes in Dialysis, Facility Administrator.

There is a lot of job security. It's a high burn out job and is very specialized.

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Hmmm - we must look to what Obamacare will mean though for dialysis - however, probably something best suited for a different thread.

Specializes in Nephrology.
LOL!!! And it's probably the truth. Have seen so many things over the past few months that make my jaw hit the ground and I know it's all centered around the almighty dollar: pile more and more on the workers so money is saved, cut corners (with a total disregard for safety) so that people at the top make more money. Guess that's par for most every company/organization out there.

The jury is still out if I remain where I am. Which is a shame bc I actually, for the most part, enjoy what the job entails. Ok, except for when the patient passes out on you with a BP of 45/15 causing one to almost wet their pants bc this has never happened to one before. But I capped off the day with a big hug and a kiss from a patient. THAT made all the b.s of the day worth it.

If you like what the job then stick with it. The work flow gets easier and things are changing in the industry. Quality is becoming the main focus for upper management, this has a lot to do with changes in the payment structure, but that would be to long of a post. There is lots of opportunity in nephrology for an RN, or someone whom wants to be one.

Pretty typical at my clinic. The staff is worked to death. We have three shifts, 6 days a week. Up to 24 patient per shift. On our feet constantly and constantly running to meet patients needs. The pay to me is sub standard for what we face on a day to day basis. I know I might sound cliche with nursing and saying this, but the clinical manager and charge nurse are two that are nice to your face to get what they want in regards to the clinic goals but are nasty, lying deceiving "witches" who get ALL week ends off. At Christmas time they both took off two weeks including weekends while the rest of the staff suffered and worked our butts off like usual. I know that nursing can be a humbling experience but the way we are treated is humiliating. I've been told by staff members to find employment elsewhere but I do like alot of the staff.

Any corporate type who wants a truly sick Nurse to work with a dialysis consumer, I am going to take my old police night stick and bash them over the head, a few times. Then, when I get sick and have to go to the hospital and suffer, when I am well, I am going to give that corporate type a major beat down. I have a very strong immune system and sadly for that corporate type, I will be coming back. One company sent a pregnant woman to deliver my NxStage machine. I told her to sit down and I would take the machine into the apartment. After giving her a tip for trying to help me, I called that delivery company and ripped them a new you know what. I told them if they ever wanted my business again, they would stop that foolishness. Sending a truly sick person or a highly pregnant woman to work, really makes me ticked off. Having used to wrestle heavyweight, karate, and boxing, I am able to put the fear of God in mean and nasty people, being almost 6'3" and 250, does not hurt, either. Yes, my weight is mostly muscle mass.

I knew people like that when I worked in management and I fired them out the door. I worked weekends and holidays like everyone else. They were told that they were not better than anyone else and their assistance was needed on the weekends and holidays. Some had the attitude that they were more special than the line people, you better think again. I liked working weekends and holidays to keep the pulse on the line troops. I also liked it, because I would be able to catch certain individuals in management being nasty to the line troops, so I could tell them "Not to let the door hit you in the a$$ on the way out."

Good thing, I was not their superior, they would have been fired.

NDXUFan: "Why should DialysisNurse have to find another job, because you want to act like a jacka$$????"

Me too. When it comes to economics, Obama is an idiot.

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