Advice Re: job interview with Davita

[pielęgniarka, RN]

I have always been fascinated by dialysis. Recently I applied for, and now I am going to be interviewed for, an RN position next week with Davita. What are some good, specific questions to ask the manager about hemodialysis, or the company, the benefits, the protocols etc during my interview? That way I'll have a good idea what to ask and what to expect.

I appreciate any responses!

Sara

[dialysisguy]

I would never go back to a "reuse clinic" with DaVita. Ask you manager if they use a dry pack or reuse dialyzer. (artificial kidney)

Ask any dialysis tech or nurse who has worked in a DaVita chonic unit for a few years. They will personally know or have a friend who has experianced one of the two following scenarios.

1. A patient receiving an accidental administration of a sterilant chemical named Renalin. (which can cause instant death)

2. A patient who was accidentally given another person's artificial kidney. (which has was used by another pt duing the prior treatment):zzzzz

I love working with FMC because we use dry packs. We throw the used dialyzer away after every treatment. New kidney every time.

DG:wink2:

[ERRN1270]

RUN,RUN,RUN! Been there done that.

[anurseadvocate]

DialysisGuy is RIGHT ON. Reuse is only for those who have been thoroughly trained in correct procedures. There are many mistakes that are made when facilities do reuse. In fact, one facility was scraping the dialyzer heads to clean them and this resulted in an immediate jeopardy being called by the state, another unit the staff could not recognize a pyrogenic reaction and the patient ended up in the hospital and died, another unit didnot know not to reuse the same dialyzer if a patient had an infection, another unit did not know how to adequately check for disinfectant, etc. I advise anyone going to any unit to obtain a copy of that facility's inspection report conducted by the state. This might tell you something of the care that is being delivered. This life-saving treatment can become life-threatening in a second's time. I commend FMC for not doing reuse and because of this I am sure many patients have had less complications. RenalRuth:nurse:

[pielęgniarka, RN]

Well folks, I decided not to take the dialysis job with Davita. The offered me a great pay rate too that was hard to decline. They would have provided one week training at the corporate office and then 6 weeks to 4 months of training on site at a larger chronic hemo clinic, starting my training as a PCT trained by a PCT and working up to RN position trained by an RN. Then I would be charge RN at a small clinic (8 or 10 bed) close to where I live.

I asked at the interview about the reuse policy like another poster mentioned, and the FA and RN looked very surprised. They told me each pt has their own hemo machine so there's no worry about mix ups and that they are cleaned after each use anyway.

My observations of the unit when I shadowed were: no staff had time to even answer the phone when it rang, every staff member, LPN, PCT's and RN looked frazzled and tired. Pts looked grumpy.

I left the clinic when my day was done feeling pretty sad. Later on I drove by and the ambulance and fire truck were there with the lights & sirens going, I don't know if it was a staff member or pt :-/ Thanks for all the warnings folks. Maybe one day I'll get back into dialysis when the right opportunity presents itself. I do still find it fascinating, but not fascinating enough to risk my license over.

[Lacie, BSN, RN]

:banghead:good decision. I'd scrub toilets before ever returning to a Davita clinic. Yes they have a great education program but that's about the end of it. I was charge 2-3 weeks before I completed my orientation. From then on I was the only licensed in the building and if I came down sick then tough I had to go in. Never again!!!!

[pielęgniarka, RN]

Thanks for the reinforcement Lacie. That was a concern of mine too-- there would be no licensed replacement close by for me if I was unable to come in. What would they do? Close down the clinic for the day?

:banghead:good decision. I'd scrub toilets before ever returning to a Davita clinic. Yes they have a great education program but that's about the end of it. I was charge 2-3 weeks before I completed my orientation. From then on I was the only licensed in the building and if I came down sick then tough I had to go in. Never again!!!!

[anurseadvocate]

Sounds like you made the right choice. If each patient has their own dialysis machine that would mean that all three shifts of patients, each patient would have a machine... in fact, usually, three shifts means three patients use the same machine.... Reuse is dangerous, imho, esp since it is evident that many facilities are not adequately training staff with rationale for why there are stringent guidelines, etc... Dialysis is a life-saving treatment that can become life-threatening in a second's time. I find it interesting that Davita, former employees, as well as many present employees all have the same problems and concerns. But, again, I state that if one sees something and does not intervene then one is as guilty as the one not doing what they are suppose to. I am also aware, from experience, that there is a underlying code that truly prohibits staff from reporting other staff, or even telling another staff what they did wrong,,, unless you are in a FA position... of course, not all facilities, but many. RenalRuth

[workingmomRN]

I've been in dialysis for 8 years now, and I still get nervous when I am the only nurse in the building. I thank the Lord every day for good PCT's who know their job very well, and pray even harder on the days when the PCT's working are new or not dependable. It puts alot of pressure on you to be the only RN there. I have worked like that for both Davita & Fresenius, but I will have to say that Davita works you like a dog worse than Fresenius.

[gradRN2007, BSN, RN]

oh oh, i just applied online in jax and now i hope they don't call...should of read here first. i am from large hospital with own HD unit and now looking for RN work in Jax. I did have one interview at Mayo yesterday. also, no HD experience. Love the comment above about HCA, did agency there and never again.

Well, back south tomorrow until a job here..allnurses is the best

[littlefoot1115]

i was terrified being the only RN in the building. now i love it, and usually request it that way. of course, having help is great, but when your help is inexperienced + a mess, its not helpful at all.

REUSE IS THE DEVIL.

[CocoaPuff44]

I'm trying to score an interview with Davita, can anyone provide insight on what type of questions I can expect on the assessment test? Just wondering if the questions are med-surgy? Also, what is the training like? Thanks in advance!