Any other dialysis travelers?

Specialties Urology

Published

Wondering if there are any other dialysis travelers out there? If so, would love to chat about your experiences! I am about to start my 3rd assignment. What agencies have you worked for? Environments? Orientation? Pay? Private message me! Thanks!!

Specializes in Telemetry, Medical Surgical, Dialysis.

Quik travel told me that they pay on week one. The tax advantage I think is fine as long as your hourly rate is somewhere above $20. If you're hourly rate is super low like $15, then when you work overtime, you'll only be making $27 an hour and it won't really benefit. I think reasonable tax advantages are a plus. I am also a fan of companies that do completion bonuses, 401k, license reimbursement, and give you incentives to stay with their company. I am by no means an expert, but I am learning. And I think just time and asking a lot of questions helps. Is that what you were asking?

Yes, this helps because when I travelled between 2006-2009, if you we're quoted $35/ hr you got that and your housing was provided. Tax advantage can be confusing and I do not want to get burned by the IRS.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Telemetry, Medical Surgical, Dialysis.

NurseRies, do you only work with acutes? I work with chronics but I want to learn acutes also so that I can be flexible. I want to go to Cali next but if I like it I'll do two tours here. So far the city seems good. Everything is maybe ten minutes or less away and the clinic is 4 miles away.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Dialysis, Plasmapheresis.
NurseRies do you only work with acutes? I work with chronics but I want to learn acutes also so that I can be flexible. I want to go to Cali next but if I like it I'll do two tours here. So far the city seems good. Everything is maybe ten minutes or less away and the clinic is 4 miles away.[/quote']

Cool! I have been doing acutes, but I worked chronics for 2.5 years, so I can do both. I wish I knew PD or CRRT, but unfortunately, these assignments will likely not train you. Acutes are completely different although it really helps to do chronics first. That way you're not intimidated by the machine or by the fistulas, etc. while I was working chronics at my permanent job, I landed a prn acute job and was able to do both at the same time so it def helps as a traveler. So far, I keep landing acute jobs. I want a chronic assignment, but it seems like the companies want to place me in the hospitals. The only down side is that the hours in acutes are bizarre and unpredictable. It does give me the potential to make overtime cash though.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Telemetry, Medical Surgical, Dialysis.

Cool! I have been doing acutes, but I worked chronics for 2.5 years, so I can do both. I wish I knew PD or CRRT, but unfortunately, these assignments will likely not train you. Acutes are completely different although it really helps to do chronics first. That way you're not intimidated by the machine or by the fistulas, etc. while I was working chronics at my permanent job, I landed a prn acute job and was able to do both at the same time so it def helps as a traveler. So far, I keep landing acute jobs. I want a chronic assignment, but it seems like the companies want to place me in the hospitals. The only down side is that the hours in acutes are bizarre and unpredictable. It does give me the potential to make overtime cash though.

I have a PRN job on a renal floor at home and I have spoken to the manager about floating to the center and working with acutes.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Dialysis.

Sounds good. Yeah almost all the recruiters I've talked to have been right on top of anything I have asked. I do prefer the smaller companies, the only down side is that they have limited opportunities, compared to American mobile or fresenius. But I like the smaller, everyone knows your name, kind of company. I think in dialysis, you either have to be really open to new, rural locations, or willing to switch companies if you really are dead set on a certain city. But I also see a lot of jobs that are listed on all the different websites. Most jobs put out opportunities on 4-5 different agencies. I would recommend foundation or Quik travel to anyone interested in dialysis. New directions and fortus also seemed really personalized. I was very impressed with all the recruiters I've talked to. I really like my recruiter at Foundation.

I had foundation with my first assignment the only thing u didn't like was when I needed my recruiter at 1am I couldn't get a hold of her or anyone in the company. It was a horrible situation I was by my self with a baby and it was my first time out NY. Another thing about Fortus that I like is that they pay more. AMN tries to low ball you and then through 100 dollars at you and act like they are doing you a favor.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Dialysis, Plasmapheresis.

I had foundation with my first assignment the only thing u didn't like was when I needed my recruiter at 1am I couldn't get a hold of her or anyone in the company. It was a horrible situation I was by my self with a baby and it was my first time out NY. Another thing about Fortus that I like is that they pay more. AMN tries to low ball you and then through 100 dollars at you and act like they are doing you a favor.

Yeah AMN does seem low, but they do have a lot of options. So you were told to dialyze a baby and you had no training?? What did you do? How did this happen? I would refuse.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Dialysis.

Yeah AMN does seem low, but they do have a lot of options. So you were told to dialyze a baby and you had no training?? What did you do? How did this happen? I would refuse.

No what happen was the lady who I was renting from trued to kick me out of my apartment at the wee hours of the morning. I was having an issue and I couldn't get a hold of my recruiter. I'm from NY and I was in Montana so I didn't know there laws but she called the police and was trying to get them to make me give them my keys to the apartment before I left.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Dialysis, Plasmapheresis.

No what happen was the lady who I was renting from trued to kick me out of my apartment at the wee hours of the morning. I was having an issue and I couldn't get a hold of my recruiter. I'm from NY and I was in Montana so I didn't know there laws but she called the police and was trying to get them to make me give them my keys to the apartment before I left.

Sounds awful! So are you traveling now?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Dialysis.

No I'm in school to try and get my RN so I'm starting with fresenius on m OK Monday

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Dialysis, Plasmapheresis.
No I'm in school to try and get my RN so I'm starting with fresenius on m OK Monday

Great! Best of luck... When you decide to travel again, let me know!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment