Moving from Corrections to Renal...help!

Specialties Urology

Published

Help!

I'm a relatively new grad - my entire experience, even before LPN, was in emergency.

Now I'm an RN who is an Emergency nurse for a very large state prison. I've lived the past six months dealing with hangings, overdoses, shankings, fights, heart attacks, and seizures.

A few encounters recently left me feeling very unsafe at the prison (more so than usual) and I don't do IVs or administer meds there either, so I'm making the move back out.

Surprisingly, I got a call for an interview in a hospital for a FT RN on a busy renal floor.

I'm reviewing my old books to catch back up on renal, but it's a little overwhelming - the interview is bright and early on Monday.

What are the important parts to study up on before my interview? If you were going to precept me, what would you hope I was already informed of when I came on? I'm excellent at pathophys and emergencies, but I'm interested in what you encounter day to day.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Dialysis.

For a renal floor, I would definitely review electrolyte values. A lot renal pt's are also diabetic, so review diabetes, as well as htn meds. Common renal meds include: epogen/procrit, venofer, phosphate binder (to be taken w/ meals, not before or after), vitamin D analogs. You may also see a lot of wounds so antibiotics will be given often and wound care will be done frequently. I spent 3 years on a renal floor and learned so much!!! I am now in home dialysis and love it! Good luck!

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I am a former corrections nurse who is currently a dialysis nurse. In fact I still worked Prn occassionally at the prison. Most nurses do not know anything about dialysis, so you will not be at a disadvantage in this. My techs always say that during an emergency, I don't get rattled. Most definitely learned while working in a prison. Good luck you will do fine. Us correction nurses wear many hats, and we learn a little bit of each kind of nursisng.

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I actually got the job :) Well, one of them. This one starts out part time, so I will still be PRN at the prison, too. I'm hoping to really extend my skills this way!

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As a former police officer, you will fit in with no problems, I guarantee it.

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