Be a Nursing Home Nurse or Dialysis Nurse

Staragate, ADN, ASN, RN · Nov 11, 2014

I did both. Dialysis is better, hands down. SNF gives you an unreasonable workload, understaffed, under trained and under supplied situation. ...and I worked at one of the better ones!

In dialysis, you have the same patients all the time, about a dozen meds to worry about and likely no night shift. I like it a lot better, though it is still very challenging.

If you can get a base in hospital experience first, that is best. In this climate, that can be hard for a new grad to get hired in one.

RunBabyRN · Nov 11, 2014

I agree about SNF work. You have an insane amount to do in very little time. I had 36 patients to pass meds to in an 8 hour shift, not to mention wound care, assessments, documentation, etc. I didn't feel I could do all of this safely, so I quit. I worked at one with a good reputation, as far as SNFs go. I am very used to high pressure, fast pace, thinking on my feet, but this job was too much. I felt like my license was on the line every single day.

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN · Nov 11, 2014

It depends on what your long term goals are. SNF will give you better experience when it comes tp working in a hospital setting. Dialyisis is a specialty and can get pretty montonous.

Sablegirl · Nov 12, 2014

I did both. Dialysis is better, hands down. SNF gives you an unreasonable workload, understaffed, under trained and under supplied situation. ...and I worked at one of the better ones!
In dialysis, you have the same patients all the time, about a dozen meds to worry about and likely no night shift. I like it a lot better, though it is still very challenging.
If you can get a base in hospital experience first, that is best. In this climate, that can be hard for a new grad to get hired in one.

Thanks for sharing your point of view.., I am leaning towards the same idea. You just confirmed what I am suspecting.

Sablegirl · Nov 12, 2014

I agree about SNF work. You have an insane amount to do in very little time. I had 36 patients to pass meds to in an 8 hour shift, not to mention wound care, assessments, documentation, etc. I didn't feel I could do all of this safely, so I quit. I worked at one with a good reputation, as far as SNFs go. I am very used to high pressure, fast pace, thinking on my feet, but this job was too much. I felt like my license was on the line every single day.

I agree, this is what really scares me...I worked as a CNA before in a nursing home and it was gruesome amount of manual work for me. It was OK since I was not using a lot of mental, decision making and problem solving skills like a nurse would need to do. I could see how a nurse could feel scared that his/her license was on the line every single day.

I would not want to be in the same situation myself. Thanks for the feedback.

caliotter3 · Nov 12, 2014

LTC opportunities will always be more forthcoming than the specialty opportunities. I would go to the dialysis job first. You can always get a LTC job down the road.

Sablegirl · Nov 12, 2014

It depends on what your long term goals are. SNF will give you better experience when it comes tp working in a hospital setting. Dialyisis is a specialty and can get pretty montonous.

Thanks for sharing your opinion...I would like to develop my nursing skills but Dialysis seems like a good specialty to get into. I see a lot of demand for Nephrology Nurses. I would like to someday get into med surg or maybe telemetry in a hospital somewhere even just on a part time basis.

Sablegirl · Nov 12, 2014

LTC opportunities will always be more forthcoming than the specialty opportunities. I would go to the dialysis job first. You can always get a LTC job down the road.

Definitely agree with you on this...thanks for response!