[MOnurse]

Decided to try dialysis nursing...excited, but with several companies in the area, seeking advice on which one to go with based on your experiences. There are other companies just can't think of the names right now. Also, any advice from you all is welcome!

When checking these places out, what standards should I be looking for? Avg nurse~pt ratio? number of techs? avg hrly pay? expectations?

ALL INFO WELCOME!!

Thanks so much for spending your valuable time responding !
MoNurse

[nosonew]

Fresenius just bought RCG
Davita just bought Gambro

I say it's a toss up.

:shrug:

In 2 weeks I am OUT of dialysis... Best wishes!

[Kelden17]

Actually FMC and RCG are merging corporations

[Hellllllo Nurse]

Renal Care Group was one of the best companies I'd ever worked for, but they were bought out by Fresenius, who has ruined them.

[CocoaGirl]

I would suggest trying to find a privately owned dialysis unit, not a large for profit company like Fresenius or Davita. Fresenius is not patient or employee focused (even though they say they are), it is all about the profit (which is why they are a multi-billion dollar company). Beware Fresenius units may also be call RCG (renal care group) or BMA units. I can not advise you on Davita units because I have never worked in one, you may want to look at previous posts. FMC and Davita have a near monopoly in the dialysis / renal fields. The best nursing job I have ever had was working for a privately owned dialysis facility, until FMC "acquired" our units and messed everything up. Good Luck in your search.

[KJB_65]

I agree with CocoaGirl. Try to find a privately owned company. I was a Dialysis nurse for 5 years and I would not work again....ever......for a Fresenius owned or affiliated company. Go to the specialty boards and check the dialysis forum. There is a lot of info there. Good luck with your decision.

[conehead]

I just left Davita to work for FMC. Both companies are out for the money and that is the bottom line. I left Davita because they gave me two weeks of training and then gave me an assignment. Never working in diaylsis before I was lost and they did not care. All Davita saw was an RN who could push meds and be held accountable for things. The techs run the show at Davita not the nurses.
FMC has better benefits and a better training program. I haven't been there long enough to see how they treat the nurses but so far I have been treated pretty good. Time will tell but I look at it this way any job you have there are good things and bad things about it no job is perfect. It just depends on how much you are willing to put up with.

[Lacie]

Originally Posted by conehead

All Davita saw was an RN who could push meds and be held accountable for things. The techs run the show at Davita not the nurses.

Boy did you hit this nail on the head!! I couldnt agree with you more is why I'm on my way out the door myself!!! Dont forget pushing the mop and doing all the cleaning because they have sent everyone home and your the last one to lock the doors every time your scheduled or the 16 hours you work every time as the only licensed in the building. You may not get that full 30 min lunch break (only one you get by the way during that 16 hours) but end of day that time clock docks you anyway. I'm seeing PCT's clocking out and coming back in to work "off the clock" so they dont "get yelled at" by the FA. I've refused to do this and it's biting my in the *rse. Most inconsistent place I have ever encountered in my entire 25 year career.

[needlemasterone]

It is clear to me that Fresenious does the absolute best job of training their staff and take great care in safety for the patients and for their staff. I doubt the the private owned firms have the resources to give extensive training to their staff. Staff are sent to classes away from the responsibility of working with patients at Fresenious.
I have worked where nurses and techs were put out on the floor when they are just about clueless concerning dialysis. I am sure an RN would not want to be responsible for dialysis patients when he or she does not know what they are doing.
I worked in a private owned clinic where quite a few of the staff did not understand why things had to be done a certain way so they would violate policy and procedure to save time. Fresenious takes the time to educate their staff.
Like other businesses, they have to do what it takes to keep costs down.
Private owned independent clinics have to take even greater measures to save money to stay in business.
I was told that not even Davita will send you off to 2, 3, or 5 weeks of classes before having you out on the floor. Some staff at Fresenious get 10 weeks of training which is at least 3 or 4 weeks in a class room. Quite a few written tests are done and training under a preceptor until it is clear that you know how they want things done and why things are done that way.
I suggest working for Fresenious and after a couple of years you can take your knowledge and skills elsewhere if you want to, but first get properly trained.

[needlemasterone]

P.S. We were greatly overworked at a private owned dialysis clinic where I was also. Lunches were cut short and I knew of 2 techs that punched out and came back to work to keep the owners and management off their backs. They did this every week. Breaks and lunches were often skipped. It seems like this is the American way of running a dialysis company as well as a few other companies. Unions are badly needed. I doubt that they can out source our jobs to the far east like other vocations.