[bluefabian]

I dunno about you people, but I found chronic haemodialysis to be terribly routine and boring, after quite some time. It was tough when I first starting up - the anxiety and overwhelming flood of knowledge, things to master and not knowing anything!!!

But one and half years later on, I discovered that I will not learn much more beyond chronic dialysis if I kept on working here. I doubt I know all about renal nursing - but that's not the point. The only thing that is good is the sense of connection that you have with the patients, sometimes good and flexible working hours, moderate pace, and Sundays off. It's a drastic difference from what I did before - ER.

I miss doing IV starts, giving out medications, dressing changes... All those skills that I no longer use here. Well, at least not as much. Somehow I fear I will lose these skills if I don't practice.

So I resigned from my job in this dialysis centre and got an offer to work in a teaching hospital, also in the Dialysis unit. Not really sure if it is just the usual daily chronic dialysis clinic or one that caters to all sorts of dialysis cases in the hospital - whether in-patient, acute cases in ICU or PD. If yes, good. If not..... The do have a Renal Ward, but somehow I didn't get through.

Sometimes I wonder, how people can stay long in this field.

[kayla123]

Oh wow, are you me? I had the same feeling from chronics. EVERYTHING was so routine, you got to the point where you knew everyone's problems, stories, jokes..... Yes, we had the occasional code, but all we had was an ambu-bag. After working open heart, I found it a real let down. I got so bored, bored, bored!!! Got to the point I HATED dialysis, plus I worked for DaVita so I was in Hell already. It was so easy to walk away. Too easy in fact. I know exactly what you are saying, I have a short attention span and need some kind of stimulus to keep from going into a coma..... Imagine doing this for 20 years!!! Makes you want to jump off a bridge. Go find your niche, because this ain't it.

[Natkat]

I do understand the boredom. The environment seems counter to what most nurses go into nursing to experience.

For me it works beautifully. I was a transcriptionist for many years. I basically sat in front of computer and typed eight hours a day - and I loved it.

I think everyone has their own niche. For me dialysis works well because I love routine and sameness. I may make a switch to something else in the future, but for now it suits my personality well. I can function with more action and lots of things going on. I just don't like it as much and feel fortunate that I it's not the only option available.

Best of luck with whatever you decide to do.

[bluefabian]

Sorry for the very late, late reply.

I have been to an interview (the other one) recently and guess what post was I applying? Dialysis. Yup, one that I stated being the source of my agony. But this is for a middle east job and I was really looking at the $$$. When I peaked through the applicants' list I saw only me and another nurse applying for this one post. So you can say that haemodialysis is really in need and not many nurse went to this field.

I wish that I had part doing CVVH - but nowadays, the ICU nurses are doing this role on a 1:1 basis, basically meaning they will be attending to this one pt the entire shift. Seems like most hospitals are employing this kind of role assumption these days.

Anyway, the hospital representative mentioned to me about not only being a haemodialysis nurse but more as a Renal RN. Doing PD and care for the transplant pt. Sounds very interesting and this may help to woke me up from that lazy slumber.

[corinej2007]

Originally Posted by bluefabian

I dunno about you people, but I found chronic haemodialysis to be terribly routine and boring, after quite some time. It was tough when I first starting up - the anxiety and overwhelming flood of knowledge, things to master and not knowing anything!!!

But one and half years later on, I discovered that I will not learn much more beyond chronic dialysis if I kept on working here. I doubt I know all about renal nursing - but that's not the point. The only thing that is good is the sense of connection that you have with the patients, sometimes good and flexible working hours, moderate pace, and Sundays off. It's a drastic difference from what I did before - ER.

I miss doing IV starts, giving out medications, dressing changes... All those skills that I no longer use here. Well, at least not as much. Somehow I fear I will lose these skills if I don't practice.

So I resigned from my job in this dialysis centre and got an offer to work in a teaching hospital, also in the Dialysis unit. Not really sure if it is just the usual daily chronic dialysis clinic or one that caters to all sorts of dialysis cases in the hospital - whether in-patient, acute cases in ICU or PD. If yes, good. If not..... The do have a Renal Ward, but somehow I didn't get through.

Sometimes I wonder, how people can stay long in this field.

I have been in dialysis for 2 yeas and feel the same way. I think I hated

[corinej2007]

Originally Posted by kayla123

Oh wow, are you me? I had the same feeling from chronics. EVERYTHING was so routine, you got to the point where you knew everyone's problems, stories, jokes..... Yes, we had the occasional code, but all we had was an ambu-bag. After working open heart, I found it a real let down. I got so bored, bored, bored!!! Got to the point I HATED dialysis, plus I worked for DaVita so I was in Hell already. It was so easy to walk away. Too easy in fact. I know exactly what you are saying, I have a short attention span and need some kind of stimulus to keep from going into a coma..... Imagine doing this for 20 years!!! Makes you want to jump off a bridge. Go find your niche, because this ain't it.

I work for the same company and I too live in hell I am 3 yrs in and don't think i can stand one more year, but it's great for school

[traumaRUs]

Corinej2007 - you bring up a very solid point: we all take jobs sometimes that might not be our dream job but which work well for a certain set of circumstances. Good luck in school.

[mmurphy]

It sounds like you only know some of the technical aspects of dialysis. that would be boring Learing the psych behnind chronic illness, the regulations for dialysis etc., I find the nurses that are bored in dialysis are the ones that are not motivated beyond lerning how to operate the machines.

[bluefabian]

Well, I have to disagree about the comment that people who find it boring only wants to know little beyond operating the machine.

Really? Because I remember myself comprehending all those lab values and how they relate to the patient's well being, nutritional aspects, cardiovascular related complications, psycho-social relations and how the illness affects these people. And that doesn't even includes the renal registry that I've done, monetary aids and funding... I've seen them and I've seen a lot. It's not like I am here a few months. It's close to two years now. And it was not that within these years, all that I wanted to do is prime, poke, return blood and take off. Then go home.

Well, I guess it depends on the people. I though haemodialysis is an absolute specialty on it's own, not a sub-specialty within nephrology nursing. Knowing that, I quit my present job and will work in a Renal Unit - doing more than haemodialysis soon, PD and transplant cases. Excited because I will learn a lot more.

Like it or not, there are settings of which you can learn more than the other. Hospitals based practice is for one, against private dialysis centres who caters to chronics. We talked about renal failure, but there are all sorts of renal failure, including acutes that depends on how it occurs - burn, trauma... Then there's also paediatric dialysis, CVVH... We are not even talking if we branch into urology... So I guess, I am just thinking how much I will miss... and so much out there I can learn if I switch environment.

If something is not giving you more than you expected, it's time to change. my 2 cents.

[MelitaRN]

Hello there,

I am very new to Hemodialysis, however, I can tell you that the nurses in my facility are required to give out meds to patients (orally, IVP or via catheter) clean/change catheter dressings, perform foot checks, do physical assessments on patients, draw labs, etc. The medical directors are ever present, but they involve the nurses to make treatment decisions.

We have lots of responsibilities that are similar to those I performed in a critical care setting. It just may be the policies and procedures of my unit, but we have a lot to do and I don't feel I would lose out on my skills.
Are these the norm for most outpatient facilities?

Thanks!