acute and chronic. the difference in experience

[dodoy, BSN, RN]

Hi there fellow dialysis nurses! I'm fairly new to this field and have just a few months up my sleeve. I've been working on a chronic hemodialysis unit for quite a few months now and I find it very routinary. Capital R! I don't know if it's just me, or it's just the nature of work in chronic units.

Honestly, hemodialysis was never my first choice of field. It's really Med-Surg, but for some career-wise decision I opted to choose this because it gave me a chance for employment (knowing that securing a job anywhere is just too damn hard). In our unit, we work Mondays to Saturdays, offs being on Sundays (but still on-call if there are for emergency HD's). I feel like I don't have any time for myself. I can't even attend a simple get-together with friends due to the hectic schedule. I know I just have to hang on because this is my first job. Maybe I can be more choosy after I have secured at least a year of experience here. Damn.

Sometimes I can't help myself but to envy those friends of mine working on Med-Surgs wards. They work usually 4 days a week 8 hours per shift. We also do 8 hours per shift but usually we have to extend due to different factors (late patients, etc.)

So here's the query. How's the life working on acutes? Do you have more freedom there than on chronics? What cases do you usually encounter on acute (drug overdose, secondary ARF's, etc?). Would love to see inputs from those who have gone through, or going though this. Please share your experiences. Thanks a lot.

I'm from the Philippines and I seldom see acute HD units, usually chronics.