Tips for new grad starting Davita dialysis houston

Don't do anything that will compromise patient safety. Also do what you feel is right not what others say. Ex. A pt had a 47 HR chronicly, then comes in one day and during dialysis has a 35 HR, I wanted to send out to ER but FA ( also a nurse) says not to or MD says "no". I sent him out to ER anyway and he got a much needed pacemaker. Do what you feel is right in your heart. Someone in my unit has previously told me to start tx without heparin (against prescription and could lead to clotting) or to cut someone's tx time (so we won't be there late). This person was actually not a nurse. But bottom line don't just do something because a boss has said to or MD has said to because if it ends up in court, do you really think that you will be backed????? NO!

So, how do you know to or not to do these type of things? Do they train you and teach all about that in the "classroom" component?

I too am starting at davita. TOMORROW in fact. I haven't put in written notice at my current job yet. I still don't know about the whole thing. I will get a better feel tomorrow, I HOPE!

There are somethings they just cant teach you in a classroom. I am and always will be what some of us old schoolers call a "gut" nurse. In other words my gut directs me when I think something isnt right and usually I'm right. You get to know your patients well and seeing them as much as you do you know when there's a problem although it may be something you cant just put your finger on or a name to it. This comes with experience. What I have found in chronic dialysis is too many nurses and pcts become too "tunnel vision" and dont look at the pt as a whole or what other co-morbities are there. They concentrate too much on just meeting the numbers required by corporate and not the patient. Most I have worked with couldnt tell you what a murmur sounds like or be able to identify afib without a monitor. I was surprised how many pcts dont know how to do a manual b/p or how to do a manual pulse!!!! I have only one pct for instant on my staff that actually can do a manual blood pressure. Some places even have the pct's doing the assessments rather than the RN. My clinic was that way until I took over as manager. I was appalled. Sometimes you have to be a risk taker and stand up for your patients even if it means putting your job on the line.

I read a post a month ago that someone wrote that said they decided not to go wit DaVita because they had a bad feeling inside the clinic. So, later that day they said they drove past the clinic and saw an ambulance there. I said to myself briefly "if there is an ambulance there when I get there I am leaving" today I pull up for my first day and guess what! AMBULANCE.. So I get out of the car, go inside. I waited in the lobby about 20 minutes. The whole time I am listening to patients bad mouth the place and so on. I am getting ansy.. I still couldn't shake that gut feeling I have had ever since I accepted the positon 4 weeks ago. I looked through the treatment window and heard the loudest voice "this is not the place for you" What r u waiting for, and why are you here on your day off. ( worked 5 -12 hour shiftsout of the past 7 days).. I am not secure in my own knowledge as a nurse with only 4 months of experience to venture out yet. So- I got up, left and called my recruiter to tell her I decline the job at this time. THAT is what my GUT told me to do. I feel so bad but I feel good at the same time....

Good for you!!! Sounds like you made the right decision. Stay in the hospital setting for abit and get your feet wet. You'll find you nitch when your ready

Thank you Lacie, that was good confirmation. It may have just boiled down to right opportunity, wrong time...

Goodluck. Davita sucks! Once you start you will know what i'm talking about. there is so much ******** associated with that company.