Advise for New Grad Dialysis Nurse

idodialysis · Jul 11, 2015

Are you going to be on the same clinic where you have been a tech? It will be more of a challenge, but keep in mind that as the RN team leader you supervise those techs. Check, check and check what they are doing. Develop a system of assessing your patients where you also assess your machine settings, the bath and the patients RX. Have a system of med admin that is efficient. Always observe infection control procedures...remember you are setting an example for others. Good luck!

JollyGreenGiant · Jul 11, 2015

Thanks!

It will be at a different clinic but I have worked side by side with some of the techs before.

Natkat, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 21, 2015

I went from being a tech to a nurse. It has been a great ride. But there is that moment when you realize that YOU are the nurse and you can't turn around and ask somebody what to do. You're it! I also remember being scared out of my underpants the first time I gave meds by myself. I had done it plenty of times in nursing school, but it's scary the first time you do it alone. It hits you that "geez, I could kill this person!" Same with giving blood for the first time. You'll be a wreck watching the blood go,through the line going to the patient, and holding your breath hoping they don't have a transfusion reaction!

There are lots of opportunities in dialysis. I always thought I would try acute care but I ended up staying in dialysis because it's interesting, there is a lot of autonomy and lots of different things you can do. I'm in a BSN program and plan to continue to the MSN program. And doors are opening like you wouldn't believe. I have found myself part of a research council and I am learning so much about how to put together a project. So you never know. It's a worthwhile career and its exploding thanks to McDonalds and Taco Bell........one day a few weeks ago I had 5 patients, and all of them were young enough to be my kids!

TEXASWAG, MSN, RN · Aug 1, 2015

Don't let the techs intimidate you. You're the RN and not them. It's a plus that you were a dialysis tech before, but remember that you are still the RN carrying a lot of responsibility.

JollyGreenGiant · Aug 6, 2015

Well I'm a few weeks into training and it's going pretty well. The dialysis tech experience definitely has helped. My issue now is dealing with dialysis prescription entry errors.

As part of my assessment I'm required to verify the tech entered the prescription correctly. What I'm finding is that I have to make frequent corrections to the settings. And it's not always little things. I have to make corrections to baths, start heparin infusions that haven't been started, recalculate amount of fluid to remove.

I had to write up an report yesterday when a system clotted off because the patient wasn't given heparin. I was late on my assessment with her so I didn't have a chance to verify the prescription yet. My boss wasn't to happy and it falls on me because I didn't verify the script in time.

What's the best way to address these issues with my coworkers. They are under a lot of pressure to get the patients started in a timely manner and have been working short staffed. So I can see how these errors are being made. But from where I stand these errors are still unacceptable and will all fall back on me and my licence if anything where to happen.

Natkat, BSN, MSN, RN · Aug 17, 2015

This is the time where the leadership part of your education comes into play. You have to talk to the techs and insist that they follow the orders. Then if they don't you have to enforce the consequences. They won't like it and accuse you of trying to be better than them but so what? You kept the patient safe and that's more important.

nocturnallife, ASN, RN · Feb 22, 2017

I'm going to be a RN soon and I am interested in working in dialysis. But I have experience as a nurse extern that's it. Any tips as how to get a job in Dialysis?