Davita - Should I take it/should I not????

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Any Davita/Dialysis nurses out there? I am a new nurse who has been offered an RN staff position with Davita. They said they will give me full training etc and once working I may be have about 12 patients under my care (which is what the state says it safe).

I have never worked in dialysis before so am not fully up to speed on what complications etc could occur during the dialysis procedure and wonder whether 12 is a realistic number, and whether I should take it...any ideas/comments???????????

Hello - I have worked for Davita for almost 5 years, both in the acute and chronic settings. Davita used to be a great company to work for, I think however that when they bought Gambro out, they may have bitten off more than they could chew. Since then, I have seen consistent staff shortages (sometimes dangerously so), serious turnover of RN's, and a drastic change in attitude. I agree with a prior reply - I would rather have foregone the 2 day "drunkfest" academy, and opted for more staff. For example, I am the only nurse scheduled to work this Sunday from 5am-9pm (3 full shifts), with only 5 techs.

We have 20 chairs and then 2 more in isolation. Being a Sunday, there will also be no ancillary support (answering the phones, etc), so I expect to be kept very busy. Personally, I don't think this is the arena for a new RN, or one that has not developed excellent time management skills and able to work in a very stressful environment. I hope I have answered your question. Good luck in whatever you decide to do.;)

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Specializes in Dialysis,PACU.

I currently work for a Davita clinic and I love it. I did work med/surge for 9 months after graduation(that I hated). I think that when it comes down to it its about the staff that you work with. I work with a great bunch of nurses and techs. We are not short staffed however so this i am sure makes a big difference. Davita offers very good benefits and vacation package.

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Specializes in jack of all trades.
KiKi05 said:
I currently work for a Davita clinic and I love it. I did work med/surge for 9 months after graduation(that I hated). I think that when it comes down to it its about the staff that you work with. I work with a great bunch of nurses and techs. We are not short staffed however so this I am sure makes a big difference. Davita offers very good benefits and vacation package.

You're very fortunate if well staffed in a Davita unit particularly with the recent cutbacks. I worked last Saturday as the only licensed in the unit (building for that matter) and 2 techs. We run 3 shifts and had a total of 34 pts (14 chairs). Today was myself, 1-LPN and 1 PCT. We have staff being told not to come in till 8 am (we open at 5am) on days we have 4 to keep the SWC below the requirement. I went in a 4:30 this morning and didn't clock out till after 8:30 pm. I havent yet charted my monthly nursing notes for last month much less this month. The stack of home med reviews has been piling up for weeks. I'm also the only RN besides the FA as keeping RN staff seems impossible. I've been a Nurse for over 25 years and always considered myself very well rounded in my experience.Since with Davita I see too many unsafe situations and way too many other issues pushed to the side in order to run the "assembly" line. I love dialysis but ..........:angryfire

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I couldn't agree more with Lacie, the large dialysis companies will do anything for $$$$$. Fresenius is not any better, staffing is horrible, morale is low and patient care is not their top priority. It is not easy being the only licensed staff in the building along with 3 techs for 14 dialysis stations. If that isn't stressful I don't know what is. My average day starts at 5:30 am and ends at 7pm. For the amount of work and responsibliity the salary is terrible. It's a shame that the co-CEO's made $4,728,000 between the two of them in 2006 according to Business week. (yes that's almost 5 million dollars).

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Specializes in jack of all trades.
CocoaGirl said:
I couldn't agree more with Lacie, the large dialysis companies will do anything for $$$$$. Fresenius is not any better, staffing is horrible, morale is low and patient care is not their top priority. It is not easy being the only licensed staff in the building along with 3 techs for 14 dialysis stations. If that isn't stressful I don't know what is. My average day starts at 5:30 am and ends at 7pm. For the amount of work and responsibliity the salary is terrible. It's a shame that the co-CEO's made $4,728,000 between the two of them in 2006 according to Business week. (yes that's almost 5 million dollars).

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/12/IPFN.html (AcuteRN posted this one previously)

Ken Thiry recieved over $27 Million for this past years compensation package, yet we cut staff to the bone. Next the pts will be bringing thier own bandaids LOL. I hear daily "that cost too much" to include the 3 computers that are down at the pt chairside for the last 6 months. Pt care takes a very low priority. It's not worth it for the money I make at $22.00/hr. I have an offer to return to case management for almost $300.00 /week more so I'm probably heading that way. I'll miss pt care if I take it but what the H e double hockey sticks.

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How much does Davita start new nurses? or what is their pay rate. Thanks

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How much does Davita pay new nurses?

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What is the pay like?

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I was started as a new grad at $21.50

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I am a new grad RN and accepted a job w/ Davita recently and I will be starting out at $25/hr!

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Niecystewka_RN said:
I am a new grad RN and accepted a job w/ Davita recently and I will be starting out at $25/hr!

And believe me, you'll earn every bit of that $25.00 an hour and more. Good luck. DaVita isn't a company I'd recommend anyone to work for unless they've really done their homework. Especially a new grad.

My advice to you is to refuse to be precepted by anyone that doesn't hold a licence at least equivalent to yours.

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;)You couldn't pay me enough to go back there, I'd pay them to leave me alone.

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