acute hemodialysis...do you like it?

[nursingisok]

I wanted to know what about acute dialysis is good and bad. I really want to do it but I want to know the pros and cons first and why you like it or don't like it? Which company is better to work for in acutes?

[lunden]

acute is mostly done in the hospitals. only chronic dialysis is done in clinics. davita is the largest co. i believe then fresenius. acute pts. r usually temporary, where chronic is forever, unless the pt receives a transplant. now there is nocturnal dialysis where the pt receives dialysis all night, or peritoneal dialysis, where the pt does about 4 exchanges themselves, giving the pt more control over their tx's. i couldn't really say if it's good or bad, but u would be dealing with very sick pt's either way. those r the cons's. hope this helps

[nursingisok]

Are there alot of acute dialysis RN's who do not have ICU or crit care experience? Do you think one can be an acute dialysis nurse without that?

[soulofme]

Are there alot of acute dialysis RN's who do not have ICU or crit care experience? Do you think one can be an acute dialysis nurse without that?

I started right out of NS in acutes...yeppers

[Lacie, BSN, RN]

It can be done but after being in the business as long as I have I would recommend anyone to get at least 1 year Critical care experience. There are numerous other co-morbities and being able to readily recognize and provide intervention is important. Remember there is generally no one else to fall back on for help as you are by yourself most of the time depending on where you work. I prefer to hire seasoned nurses who have critical care experience into acutes. I also recommend you get some chronic experience first. Just my own opinion.

[LH19rn]

Soulofme, would you say you have always been a faster learner and found it easier to adapt than the average person? Have you always been one of those people who are able to think well under pressure? I am wondering how you made it as a new grad RN in acutes. I imagine you must have been an above average nursing student in both clinical and theory.

[DeLana_RN, BSN, RN]

I did acutes in a hospital inpatient unit after having 5+ years of chronic dialysis experience (and 1+ year of med/tele/stepdown prior to that; however, no critical care). I liked it and only left because the census dropped and I was always called off (I had PRN status - not recommended when you start out, as you don't get as much exposure/experience).

I don't think critical care experience is absolutely necessary, but a good solid foundation in acute care and chronic dialysis is. I do know one nurse, an excellent one, who started in this inpatient unit as a new grad; she told me, however, that it was very hard for her at first and that she would not have made it without excellent preceptors/mentors. However, she never got enough exposure to cannulating fistulas and grafts and dreads it to this day (even in chronics, RNs get limited exposure to this because PCTs get most of those accesses, but certainly more than in acutes!)

HTH, and good luck to you!

DeLana

[NurseKitten, MSN, RN]

I had 4 years chronic hemo before they let me loose on the acutes, and that was where I got my first taste of critical care. I had been urged to go ahead and take ACLS, PALS, TNCC, etc...anything that would help me get a feel for the type of skills I'd need, and I'm so glad I did.

Critical care isn't absolutely necessary, but it takes the right kind of "other" preparation and the right "OCD" personality in a nurse who is hypervigilant about any changes.