considering dialysis nursing, input?

collbaby0220 · Apr 18, 2008

I have worked in Dialysis for the past 4 years as a tech. I am a nursing student now, and plan to continue working there after i graduate. I love my job! It is a lot more complex than most people expect it to be, but very rewarding. You become close with all of the patients since they go 3 times a week, and really feel as though you are making a difference in their lives. The hours are usually 10 a day, but you only have to work 4 days a week (at most places), the hours are usually 6am-4:30pm, you have every sunday off (except if you are on call and have to come in), and the company I work for gives 6 weeks paid time off a year (that seems to be the usual with most places). You will not find the flexibility and time off like that in a hospital or many other places in general. Most places provide training for about 2 months, so your not expected to jump right in. Plus it gives you time to feel if it is right for you. This job certainly isn't for everyone, but i am so happy to work in this field. I don't know what company you are interested in, but Fresenius, DSI, and Davita are all good places to work, and pretty much go by the same guidelines. Hope this helps!

Trauma Columnist · Apr 19, 2008

My nursing background is ER which I absolutely loved because of the varied patients and conditions. I now work as an advanced practice nurse in a nephrology practice and though I like it, it is very routine. The dialysis nurses that I work with seem very laid back and personality-wise like routine.

mesa1979, BSN, RN · Apr 21, 2008

:wink2:Dialysis nursing is anything but routine, and if you like excitement, this is the job for you. I am also a tech who will be graduating May 2009. The days for our RN's are usually from 6AM-5:30-6PM three days a week. I love the relationship with my patients, but I think I may try ER or OB after I graduate.

Good Luck to ya!

Trauma Columnist · Apr 22, 2008

What I mean by routine is that you take care of a very narrow-focus patient and yes, it is repetitive: put pts on, assess, give meds, take pts off. This would be very appealing to some nurses. However, there are other nurses who will be bored stiff with this set routine.

annfaith, DNP, NP · Apr 22, 2008

I am an LPN who is due to graduate with my BSN in May 09. I have worked at a dialysis unit for the past three years. There are some days when i am physically tired and then some when I am emotionally tired. I like the mix of the two. I love it but I agree you either love it or hate it. Take the chance.

bluefabian · Apr 22, 2008

If you read my other post here, you know my feelings. It's terribly routine but so much specialised. The technical part can be overwhelming at times. So much relationship with technology and you will be surprised how dialysis is interconnected with other systems as well - cardiovascular, endocrine, musculoskeletal... You will be a master of this field no doubt.

If you can, go for nephrology nursing or rather work in a Renal ward. It broadens your scope of practice beyond haemodialysis. That is where I am trying to go now.

Natkat, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 23, 2008

I disagree that it is anything but routine. It is VERY routine with minor daily variations. But I'm a person who likes routine so it works for me.

I also disagree that you love it or hate it. I think it's more tolerable than most things, but I wouldn't say I love it.

You might find it difficult to adjust after working the ED, but if you give yourself time to shift gears it'll be fine. Here are the pros and cons as I see them.

PRO

Have evenings and Sundays off (our clinic only runs 2 shifts so we're also done by 5 at the latest)

Get to know the patients and watch them progress

Since the job tasks are pretty much the same you can get into a routine that feels comfortable

You only see the doctors once a week.

Having the opportunity to work acutes - 1:1 ratio, reasonable hours and get to sit down during treatment.

CON

Having to get up at 3:30 a.m. to go to work.

Looooooooooong learning curve. You will go home feeling like a failure for months and months. Then one day the light goes on and you're okay. It's emotionally draining but if you can hang in there and not lose faith in yourself, it's very rewarding when you finally get the hang of it.

Getting to know the patients. They can get caught up in your business so it's good to not let them in on too many details of your life.

Getting to know the patients, developing a relationship and then they die

Watching someone slide downhill over time, refusing to do what they're supposed to, insisting that they know better than the doctor, and they keep getting sicker and sicker and sicker, and sometimes die

Shift change is HORRIBLE. Four patients coming off treatment the same time that four patients are coming on. The four patients coming off are at their most unstable, and the four patients coming on are pushing you to hurry them up.

Dialysis patients are ANGRY. Since you see them all the time, you are with them as they experience their stages of grief over having a chronic disease. It takes a while to learn how to deal with it, or at least it did me anyway.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

RNwondering · Apr 23, 2008

Thank you thank you thank you! To everyone for their input!

I am expecting a formal job offer by the end of the week once my preemployment testing is back. I think it's going to depend on what the offer is, and whether or not my current boss will allow me to stay on staff PRN. I think it sounds very interesting and I'm not hard to please, generally. It's definately something VERY different from what I'm used to, but the past few times I've visted the clinic, I've gotten pretty good feelings while I'm there. My fiance is BEGGING me to take something on days and closer to home so I think if the offer is good I will give it a shot. I'd really like to keep on PRN where I am at though....there is a part of me that is VERY proud of the skills I have developed and continue to develop and I really don't want to lose those, or if I decide down the road that this isn't for me, I'd hate to have to relearn them.

Anyways............the point is, thanks everyone! I will continue to look for posts and insight and I'll post what ends up happening.

starbin, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2008

Thank you thank you thank you! To everyone for their input!
I am expecting a formal job offer by the end of the week once my preemployment testing is back. I think it's going to depend on what the offer is, and whether or not my current boss will allow me to stay on staff PRN. I think it sounds very interesting and I'm not hard to please, generally. It's definately something VERY different from what I'm used to, but the past few times I've visted the clinic, I've gotten pretty good feelings while I'm there. My fiance is BEGGING me to take something on days and closer to home so I think if the offer is good I will give it a shot. I'd really like to keep on PRN where I am at though....there is a part of me that is VERY proud of the skills I have developed and continue to develop and I really don't want to lose those, or if I decide down the road that this isn't for me, I'd hate to have to relearn them.
Anyways............the point is, thanks everyone! I will continue to look for posts and insight and I'll post what ends up happening.

I have been a dialysis nurse for about 9 months now. Started with a sub-acute program and just love it. I don't find it boring but it is not like ER or ICU too. You have the same patients every other day for years, you get to know the patients more closely than in any other specialty, and can provide more individualized care. If you want- there is a lot to learn and utilize, if you prefer you may just learn the routine, and still get through the day. More than the specialty, it is the individual who can make it interesting or boring.

If you have a supportive team, each day will be dynamic and full of learning experiences.

redknight · Apr 26, 2008

Well, I`ve been in diaylsis now for 1 month, and let me say that prior to becoming a nurse last may. I was and still am a paramedic for the last 25years. So with that being said Ihad my first pt. today who crashed. So it was back to the street for me and I found the staff to be realy thankful for me being there. Its far from just routine, as today showed me how at a routine day can change in a second.You don`t have a code team to call down, you are on your own with very little till EMS shows up.So Here I was looking for routine and then I walk into this.I do like this work so far. It has control. I don`t half todeal with butt hole docs at the hosp. any more with their sorry ass aditude. Other nurse who screw you behind your back. Now thats not to say that I won`t have encounters with pts non-compliance, but they are every where In the hosp.,in the streets, Dr. offices and clincs. That will never change.So for me this is seeming a good fit.I like the idea of knowing I`ll be home for Christmas,Thanksgiving and New Years. I get to hang home every Sunday.and no long nights. So with that I think I`m here to stay.

collbaby0220 · Apr 26, 2008

It is a great profession. I have to agree with the whole code thing. You are definitely on your own until the EMT's get there, so it really strengthens your skills. People don't realize all of the complications that you encounter with dialysis, until they experience them first hand. It has taught me how to handle scary situations, and I am very grateful for that.