how do i become a dialysis nurse

U.S.A. Texas

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how do i become a dialysis nurse. i need the specifics. all the dialysis nurses i talk to give me a run about story. how do you train to be a dialysis nurse. is there a program. simple answer will do. if u are a dialysis nurse please help. thank you

I wish the media would stop already with the "nursing shortage" BS.

I had a professor that said "there is no shortage of nurses, just a shortage of nurses that work"....

so true. I did a quick internet search and found in Texas, Harris County and Houston, there are tons

of nurses, but they aren't all working.

My husband brought up a good point as well....that places may prefer new grads because they don't have to pay them as much as an experienced RN. Hiring a new grad with zero years vs an experienced nurse starting over in a new specialty, saves them quite a bit of money.

I've even considered leaving out my nursing experience on my resume, but the date on my license would give me away eventually.

I would never have thought that experience in the nursing field would be a disadvantage.

@txspadequeenRN: I've never worked in dialysis, but a code is a code is a code....the folks who go to dialysis are medically fragile patients to begin with, right? I think it may have been a coincidence that they were called home during dialysis rather then someplace else. The dialysis process alone is physiologically stressful, so it would make sense to me that patients undergoing it are at higher risk for coding. But then again, I'm not a dialysis nurse, so, what do i know, right? don't have that magical "one year"....hahahaha

So, it looks to me like I'm SOL as far as dialysis goes for now.

thanx to all who replied, even with the negative answers. apparently in every nursing institution there are nurses who feel that they are more adapt and more competent than others and hence think they are the only ones who deserve to be in that particular specialty or field. i have always been interested in dialysis, ER especially trauma and OR. this was a mere question, if i happen to go towards that particular area then i would do my best to serve the people i need to serve, the patients. My "1 year experience" will be on sept 25, so hopefully i will apply somewhere and be considered and trained for the job

DaVita hires new grads. I don't know how competitive it is to get in but a friend got in and didn't know anybody.

I don't know the disadvantanges of being a dialysis nurse but I know it pays really well. You get big bucks when you work on the side at doctors' offices.

My first LVN job was as a dialysis nurse. I loved it. And I was lucky enough to know someone that got me an interview.

My suggestion for you is this.....Find all the dialysis clinics in your area, and the ones that are outside of your area that you are willing to drive to. Call each facility and find out who the "facility administrator" (that's what they are called at Davita) is. Send the FA your resume directly, then call this person directly and tell them your story. Tell them your experience and that you wish to start a career in dialysis.

At Davita, it's a very "team" oriented position. I loved dialysis, and I wish you luck in your endeavor to find a position.

A BIG KUDOS !!!

"Dialysis is some serious nursing work that requires very critical thinking.

How are you going to access a dialysis port when you haven't even done

your share of starting IVs. Just a thought, I wouldn't want to do it, not

until I got some nursing exp. "

You can access a dialysis graft or fistula from accross the room. Lol! We're talking 14-15 gauge needles. So it's the PERFECT place to start!

And the pt's that go to the clinics are pretty stable. At least the ones that i had experience with :)

Specializes in ICU, School Nurse, Med/Surg, Psych.

I got hired by a hemodiaylsis provider and they trained me to set up and use the machines after I proved to them in the interview that I could recognize and react to emergency situations involving fluid and electrolyte imbalance.

the advantage of dialysis nursing is that unless you are providing acute treatment you always get newyears day, christmas, thanksgiving and every Sunday off.

Specializes in Med Surg.

My XYL is on dialysis. At the center she goes to almost all of the nurses were originally hired and trained as techs. The company pays for nursing school for those who want to go that route and holds them to a multi year commitment (not sure how long) to work there.

The problem I see with this is that while these people may be good with dialysis, that's all they really know. They lack that overall experience that allows them to see certain emergent situations that nurses with a few years acute care experience would pick up on almost immediately. As several have said, a person hooked up to a dialyzer can head south on a moments notice.

I am a dialysis recruiter and I can assure you that while we love an experienced dialysis nurse, we will happily train any nurse who has at least one year of nurse experience. We prefer med-surg and critical care backgrounds as the critical thinking skills are usually sharper. Dialysis is some of the toughest work you will do as a nurse but it is very rewarding and, from a career path perspective, it can lead a dependable nurse into management where he/she can someday manage a clinic of their own.

again, thanks for both the negative and positive remark, i have applied and will be training at davita, they have a 3 month preceptorship/training, so i will be fine by then, its part time 2 days a week just to get my foot into dialysis, if i like it then ill make the move, if not then ill stay where i'm at. wishing all the nurses and contributors a stress free day/night. kudos to all of you

I am an RN of 17 years, primarily med/surg with acute and chronically-ill patients. Most of my experience has been in the hospital setting. I would like to see if I would be qualified enough to learn dialysis.

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