Dialysis I want OUT

dialysisnurseLC · Mar 4, 2015

I know your feelings exactly!!! dialysis can be very stressful when it comes to co worker relations.. I'm sorry about the break thing but here is my suggestion... go to break first so you don't have to wait for people to come back. If you are assessing patients then you are using your nursing skills. In regards to the PCT's they will continue to be overbearing unless you say something..many times they don't even know how there actions are being perceived and they are often used to handling a lot of things on their own..just my 2 cents

Chisca, RN · Mar 5, 2015

2.I feel like me all of my co workers hate me! I consider myself a positive,upbeat, and very approachable person but I'm somehow I'm always left out of the loop whether it's work related or just getting to know the people I work with daily.
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I will only address this point as it is something I learned before working as a nurse in various dead end factory jobs. Talk sports. Even if you know only a little bit about the game or a team your co workers will include you if they can use you as a partner in whatever inane ballgame they are talking about. I hate sports but you would be surprised how many nurses, techs and patients world seems to revolve around last nights game. Spend 10 minutes a day watching ESPN and they will think you are a genius.

elmo263 · Mar 5, 2015

I understand your feelings related to this field, environment, co-workers, and questioning whether you have made the right decision. I have been an RN with my bachelors for 27 years. 16 of which I have spent in hemodialysis. It has been my favorite, my specialty, I received my CNN- cert in nephrology nursing and can't imagine doing anything else. However, outpatient hemo, my opinion is likely why you are feeling the way that you do. My girlfriend switch from our unit to a freestanding unit and was very unhappy. I worked in the northeast and am quite familiar with the satellite companies you speak of. I started hemo within the hospital, outpatient, however- overflow from in-house would come to the unit. I learned to cover acute room- inpatient hemo. And traveled to wherever hemo needed to be done in an emergency- icu,er, during or, step down, as well as pedi (which was not my favorite.) the techs are very talented, they are your eyes and ears however tend to think and act as though they know more than you until they see you are capable and knowledgable. Then respect grows from there. I have worked in all aspects of nursing. I would suggest working within a hospital. There you will strengthen your assessment skills and begin to feel more confident and independent. Please keep in mind, this field is such a specialty and requires so much training and subtle careful technique, it takes quite a long time to master. Perhaps, a change of scenery? Good luck girl!

Best of luck!!!!ðŸ˜‡

noelraquel · Mar 5, 2015

elmo263 is right

ive been a hd RN for over 7yrs and TRUST ME, ive wanted out too! remember that your clinic isn't THE ONLY outpt clinic around. work at different outpt clinics! NOT ALL co-workers are that way. yes it does help to at least attempt to work with them because they DO have the advantage of experience over you, but if you dread coming in to work that much; you have soooo much value elsewhere.

it has never annoyed me so much as when I help out at another clinic and what they do there, is sooo different! yes, some are run better, like have a better cc, fa or more experienced pcts and rns and there are some where the staff is so clicky (spelling?) that they will never have full staff for long. I never would have known how rewarding hd can be if I didn't help out at other clinics and meet the caring, compassionate and humorous people there. patients included!

like elmo263 said: being in our specialty nursing, you can go soo many places don't let that one clinic deter you from the other possibilities! as for not fully utilizing the nursing skills you've attained: this field is such a specialty, NO ONE outside of hd can ever do what WE do! I've found some solace in that, hope you do too.

GeauxNursing · Mar 6, 2015

I agree with the above posters. Each clinic is different. You may have to find another clinic where the nurses DO NOT take a bay unless short-staffed. Here in Dallas, most RNs do not take bay; LVNs do. Honestly there is always something going on that the RN needs to take care of; taking a bay is too much. Sounds like your charge nurse is a little entitled.

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Mar 7, 2015

I concur with the above, look around and find another clinic where you can use your skills! and be happy

Jean Buck · Mar 7, 2015

Wow, my heart goes out to you, and to think I was considering doing dialysis because I wanted to gain new skills mainly to help supplement my income. I heard that most of those techs get paid good money and for the new nurses that give them a hard time because they don't have the license like you do but most of those tech are good at what they do. And it's interesting how a RN has to work as a tech and get walked over by a tech. And the nurse managers don't say a thing to support and defend the Nurse, if your not interested in working dialysis I would go some where else, you do have options. Well I am currently a public health nurse and I love my job, but I'm getting back in school this fall earning my MSN. I figure I can always teach to supplement my income. Best wishes to youí ½í±

SmilingBluEyes · Mar 17, 2015

You're either in the wrong clinic or shift. I work days in a clinic and we are ALL team players. I love my coworkers.