[EnergizerNurse]

As my graduation date approaches, I've been indecisive about where I should work during my first year as an RN.

The stresses of med-surg have already taken their toll on me (i.e., high nurseatient ratios, negative attitudes of nursing staff, being on one's feet for countless hours, and the painful consequences at the end of the shift).

Would I be limiting myself if I were to go directly into hemodialysis? If I later choose to do home care, would employers ignore me because of my lack of med-surg experience?

[s9283]

I think it is a good idea to get at least 1 yr medsurg experience. I learned so much working on a medsurg floor. You work with different types of pts everyday with many different medical problems and illnesses. People with ESRD have multiple medical issues and working on a medsurg floor lets you work with all these different types of problems, see the medications that they are recieving, and the treatment they are recieving from doctors and nurses. I think you will feel more confident and prepared for many different situations that can arise while a pt is on dialysis if you work on a medsurg floor first.
I dont think you would have a hard time getting a dilaysis job without previous experience. The dilaysis clinics in my area happily higher new grads. Usually what I have seen with home care is that employers what a nurse with experience in medsurg. Medsurg is difficult at times but it made me a more confident nurse.

[PLTSGT]

I second that. Everyone, in my opinion, should have at least a year's worth of med surg under his or her belt.

[RemoteRN]

Originally Posted by EnergizerNurse

As my graduation date approaches, I've been indecisive about where I should work during my first year as an RN.

The stresses of med-surg have already taken their toll on me (i.e., high nurseatient ratios, negative attitudes of nursing staff, being on one's feet for countless hours, and the painful consequences at the end of the shift).

Would I be limiting myself if I were to go directly into hemodialysis? If I later choose to do home care, would employers ignore me because of my lack of med-surg experience?

Hemodialysis can be just as high stress as M/S so M/S might just help you get "tuned up"

Let's see. High patient ratio's.. 12-1 sometimes 20-1.
Negative attitudes.. OMG
Being on one's feet for 12-16 hours

Maybe you should shadow an RN for a day to see what goes on in a chronic unit.


Good luck.. Personally, I've done both. I'll take hemo any day.

[Farkinott]

Over here haemo encompasses a global nursing approach. I don't believe you will be "hobbling" yourself by starting in haemo. If you can pick up skill quickly in an area like haemo you can pick up skills anywhere!

[rizenfly]

I started as a new grad in hemo nursing and am very happy. There are many options availabe if you get bored. I personally enjoy the routine of it all. But everything I learned as a nursing student doesn't seem to apply in dialysis nursing!