Davita Employees.....

DeLana_RN, BSN, RN · Dec 30, 2007

I currently work PRN in acute (hospital) dialysis and many of my coworkers work part-time, 3 days a week. However, call and every other Saturday is required (minimal call for me, but on the flip side I have no guaranteed hours). Anyway, this is probably only an option once you have lots of experience.

Most large companies, such as DaVita, hire nurses with no previous dialysis experienced (preferred is a year of med/surg or ICU, but sometimes they even take new grads). Although your training period - typically 6 weeks on the job and 2 weeks classroom - will need to be on a full-time basis, they may be willing to let your part-time once you have gained some experience. IMO, I wouldn't do this until I had at least a year in dialysis as there is much to learn; of course, it also depends on how many hours you wish to work.

There is only one way to find out - contact DaVita! Every clinic is different, it all depends on local management. Let us know what they tell you and ask any questions we can help you with.

Best of luck to you,

DeLana

Lacie, BSN, RN · Dec 30, 2007

The Davita clinic I work for has Per diem as they dont want to pay the bennies to part-timers. Also consider if it's a chronic or acute unit. I'm currently in chronics and just gave my 2 weeks notice to go elsewhere for acutes. I run my tail off harder in chronics then I ever did in ICU/CTU or Burn ICU. I have been abused by pt and staff more than I ever have been in even Trauma/ER on a verbal basis. Take a hard look at the units first particularly if you have small children. During training it was nice but soon as I came off orientation I was charge and with a company with an assembly line attitude(Davita). Pct's tend to run the show not the RN (lots of micromanagement without communication goes on and a lack of professionalism). THe hours can be very long. I was told 12 but I'm open to close for 16 everytime I work (3 shifts of pts). The pct's go home and I'm stuck to clean!!! My BS didnt prepare me to be a cleaning lady lol. I'm not saying all chronics are this way but be very careful and ask the right questions particularly thier turn over rate for RN's to be specific, who opens, who closes etc.

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Dec 30, 2007

Hi,
I'm currently on maternity leave and considering changing jobs and not returning to my med/surg floor. I just finished up my 1st year of nursing and HATE feeling like a Jack of all Trades. I'm hoping that a specialty will be more up my alley. I'm really interested in dialysis nursing and recently saw a position available at a Davita branch near me. The position is for full time evenings....can anyone tell me if Davita hires part-time? I don't mind 2nd shift, but full time is something I'm trying to avoid considering I'll have a newborn and a 3 year-old at home. That's one of the thing I love about nursing is the flexibility of scheduling but it doesn't seem like you get that with dialysis....or am I wrong?

Hi there ! :)

Be sure to read through some of the other threads and posts here before you decide on a company... most of the "megabucks" companies are more interested in jsut that, than their patients or staff.. :stone

GeauxNursing · Dec 30, 2007

The Davita clinic I work for has Per diem as they dont want to pay the bennies to part-timers. Also consider if it's a chronic or acute unit. I'm currently in chronics and just gave my 2 weeks notice to go elsewhere for acutes. I run my tail off harder in chronics then I ever did in ICU/CTU or Burn ICU. I have been abused by pt and staff more than I ever have been in even Trauma/ER on a verbal basis. Take a hard look at the units first particularly if you have small children. During training it was nice but soon as I came off orientation I was charge and with a company with an assembly line attitude(Davita). Pct's tend to run the show not the RN (lots of micromanagement without communication goes on and a lack of professionalism). THe hours can be very long. I was told 12 but I'm open to close for 16 everytime I work (3 shifts of pts). The pct's go home and I'm stuck to clean!!! My BS didnt prepare me to be a cleaning lady lol. I'm not saying all chronics are this way but be very careful and ask the right questions particularly thier turn over rate for RN's to be specific, who opens, who closes etc.

Not every Davita clinic is this way, it depends on where you work. (I know you weren't implying this!)

But my nurses do work VERY hard.

kayla123 · Jan 1, 2008

I too had a wild hair up my orifice and decided to try dialysis. I have an 8 year old and a 3 year old and wanted more flexibility with hours, so I worked for Davita. Note I said WORKED, past tense.

What can I say about Davita? I would not give them the time of day. I have worked post open heart, PACU, sameday, hell, I worked for HCA WHILE they were under indictment and had JACHO at the same time and it was still more enjoyable then the fifth ring known as Davita.

If you have little kids, it is hard to work the hours. I would get up after 3 AM to get to work for after 4. We had to mix our own baths, we had a reuse tech who would float between 3 facilities. Some days I was the ONLY licensed person in the building. I could not leave the floor, Some days were 16 hours long. We had an FA you never saw. I got yelled at for using more then 2 bandaids per pt. Turnover was a nightmare all the time. They stress the "Davita Community", what a joke, it is nothing more then assembly line care with NO concern for the pt. More pts = more money in the CEO's pocket. I feared for my license every day I was there. The absolute lowest point in my career. Funny thing is, everyone I know who works or worked for Davita says the same things. RUN AWAY!!

GeauxNursing · Jan 2, 2008

this depends on your facility. not all clinics will yell at you for supply overuse. my FA is very involved with us. we have pretty good patient care. You cannot generalize like this.

cavergranny · Jan 3, 2008

I recently left the hospital environment after 10 years and thought I'd like to try dialysis. I've gone to work at a DaVita Clinic. It would take a week to list the details of this nightmare ! My immediate questions are - do techs at all dialysis clinics (I'm in Georgia) push heparin ? Ga law says they can't by law, but they do and DaVita admin says it's their approved procedure. Also, the techs at the clinics where I work (I'm rotated to three clinics) routinely give saline boluses when they want to, and they resent me when I ask if and why they did. I've been told by the other two nurses that work there "We trust our techs and besides that we can't do it all". Do any other RNs have similar concerns?

Happy2CU · Jan 3, 2008

Cavergranny, I'm a LPN at a DaVita Clinic. In our facility only licensed staff push heparin. The techs do give saline boluses at their discretion. I'm currently working in P.D. I did start in chronic hemo, and had the exact same concerns that you do.

Lacie, BSN, RN · Jan 3, 2008

I recently left the hospital environment after 10 years and thought I'd like to try dialysis. I've gone to work at a DaVita Clinic. It would take a week to list the details of this nightmare ! My immediate questions are - do techs at all dialysis clinics (I'm in Georgia) push heparin ? Ga law says they can't by law, but they do and DaVita admin says it's their approved procedure. Also, the techs at the clinics where I work (I'm rotated to three clinics) routinely give saline boluses when they want to, and they resent me when I ask if and why they did. I've been told by the other two nurses that work there "We trust our techs and besides that we can't do it all". Do any other RNs have similar concerns?

This is one of the reasons I am leaving Davita myself. Even if they can give saline at thier discretion they are required to inform and document they notified the nurse. The Nurse is also supposed to document the response not the PCT. If your in Davita then you should know this if you went through snappy training or did the protocol mandatories. I have seen the PCT/LPN pressure the bag pushing saline in rapidly to a pt with a diasyolic pressure of over 100 because he "just didnt feel good". It was his blood sugar not cramps or hypotension. This is in ANY state not just Fl or Ga. They are also NOT permitted by LAW in the state of FL just like GA to push Heparin although they do and we as RN's sign it off. Check your Nurse Practice Act for your state in relation to heparin as some states due permit this. I have refused to do this. Keep in mind even if the other person is licensed or certified as an LPN or PCT it is ultimately the RN who will take the fall if something goes wrong. How can you sign off you gave heparin , etc if someone else did so? Basic nursing school preparation tells us NO. Also my FA who is an ADN RN is the one who orders the Vancomycin, epogen, zemplar, and everything else without ever notifying the MD. And believe me I see way too many times it's not even warranted to give. Now that the insurance companies are cutting back on Epogen use we are being asked to push the use of Zemplar more to "increase profitability". I'm supposed to give these? Dont think so! I have been in with the conference calls from Corporate and have had to answer Corporate calls myself in relation to meds being signed off as given that werent by the LPN and to limit staffing by productivity hours. It doesnt matter what your title is (RN, LPN, or PCT, the FA) is included in these SWC hours. It also includes the SW and nutritionist, along with the RU tech none of which give on-hands pt care. This issues have not been my FA but CORPORATE level! I have had to cover 14 chairs on 3 full shifts with just me as the only licensed in the building much less being the charge nurse with only 2 PCT's and no other staff in order to make sure we dont exceed that SWC. (Also against state/federal/medicare regulation). I get crap from the PCT's just asking them to document on the jugs date and initial when they opened the jugs. Also medicare regulation. I've seen several clinics cited for not following these. They just havent hit our clinic yet but when they do I wont be there for the fall out. I see the academy and the prep with the CEO waving a sword with a pirate hat and sometimes even wearing a clown nose yelling "The davita way". Come on....... I have been a nurse for over 30 years and never seen so much incompetence and shortcutting in my entire career as I do with Davita. We even just pull back the dirty bandaid we put on at needle insertion to remove the needles and replace it right back over the site to save on cost. Can you say infection control lol? I could go on and on with this rant but simply put "my license means more to me then what any companies profit margin is or to prevent hurting the Techs feelings". Cavergranny my advice do like I am "run to the nearest exit". There are other dialysis clinics not associated with Davita that do not run this way. After 11 months in a Davita clinic I'm out!!!! Dont forget also we dont want to cut out Ken Thiry's $27.8 million compensation package he recieved for just 2007 alone by using one too many bandaids or chuxs.

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Jan 3, 2008

As much as I loved dialysis, the above reminds me over and over again why I am so glad I left.. after nearly ten yrs. :stone

And don't think FMC is going to be any better... NOT. :nono:

cavergranny · Jan 3, 2008

Thanks for the feedback - now at least I don't feel like I'm just crazy or paranoid ! I'm just not sure what to do about the situation. My plan right now is to just look for another job and as soon as I get one to take the advice I've gotten and RUN ! I think I might like dialysis but not this environment. The techs are all bullies and treat the nurses like crap and I think Davita admin knows this. Don't they have to know if PCTs are doing things that by law nurses should do ? What are they thinking ? I'm supposed to go to the Davita "theory" class soon - I wonder if they discuss this stuff in that setting. Again, thanks for the feedback.