Dialysis Nurses I want to hear from youI recently took a new job in OP dialysis clini

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I recently took a new job in OP dialysis clinic. We are open M,W,F. I work 12 hr shifts. When I was there shadowing it seemed busy but not crazy like my med-surg job. (ie. no people crying. ) Anyway I was wondering:) if anyone else ever worked in chronics? I want to hear the positive as well as negative? I have mostly read negative. I am figuring that I will aquire a new skill and at least it will be slightly more predictable than a med surg floor. But still it will be busy. I look forward to hearing from you. I did a year in med surg to cement my skills and am looking forward to my new job. Any thoughts?

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Specializes in ICU, School Nurse, Med/Surg, Psych.

I worked OP hemodialysis for 3 years - great to know that I always had Sunday off!! you get to know the people and you make some friends. you also have to work with people you don't like for years unlike a med/surg floor where they go home. It give you the opportunity to work on communication skills as well as detachment as you will spend a lot of time teaching your ESRD clients about diet and they will ignore you and want you to make them feel better when they come in 15 pound of fluid heavy with a potassium of 8. :)

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Specializes in Dialysis.

lol, island, the OP was looking for the positives!

I'll stay quiet on this one and just say "good luck!" You'll learn lots of cool meds.

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Hahaha. Yes, there are difficult patients. But, I for one love my patients and my job. I like that I can develop a relationship with my patients and really get to know about their health problems. There is a lot of teaching involved and I love that. I love the challenge of getting pts lab values to fall into the desired ranges. I do the anemia management at our clinic and it is my personal challenge to get that hgb between 10 and 12! One of these days I will have them all there.;)

I like that I have to use my brain to be able to provide a quality treatment. It isn't rote, repetitive tasks. Every day, every treatment is different. I find my job incredibly rewarding. I don't want to do anything else. I hope you find it as rewarding and challenging as I do. Good Luck.

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Specializes in Dialysis.

I am a new grad and wanted med surg experience first, but was offered a hospital dialysis position. Thrilled to have a job and to get a specialty, but hope the lack of clinical experience is not a deterrent to my future. Any thoughts?

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Specializes in Float Pool, Hemo Dialysis.

GOOD LUCK! Just remember how you feel right now and try to hold on to that.

I worked in OP clinic one day too long, but don't want to 'bring your high down'.

I've gone back to hospital after three years and now I appreciated it soooo much more.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Peds, NICU, PICU, adult ICU.

Honestly, wow you are luck to have found a chronic unit only open 3 days a week and less busy than a Med/Surge unit that is not the norm around here at lest.

@Faith4ce~ Honestly the majority of acute dialysis is very slow and low key and boring, but when it is not boring all heck can break out and fast. However, I am wondering are you going to be on your own in the hospital or is this a dialysis unit in the hospital? If you are going to be left alone after a preceptorship and have no dialysis experience I highly recommend against it. If you will be in a dialysis unit with other experienced RNs and PCTs then it would be a great learning experience.

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Specializes in Dialysis.

Thank-you L&Dwanabe, I have been looking for some HONEST feedback regarding this opportunity! Yes, I will be alone after preceptorship, may have an experienced PCT, but not always. This transition to a job takes a lot of navigation, I definitely need a mentor!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Peds, NICU, PICU, adult ICU.

Faith4ce~ I would not do it then if I were you. Personally I 110% believe you need a good year under your belt of dialysis before you should be completely alone. Yeah when you are in the ICU you have the ICU staff round but more than likely you are the only one who has any idea about dialysis itself or the machine. There are lots of trouble shooting issues that you can't really prepare for with the machines until they come up. Also no disrespect meant towards you but if you are left alone too soon with no one to help or correct you there is a good chance you will develop some sloppy/un-safe habits that you may not even know are bad.

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i came right out of nursing school with my BSN, and started as a floor nursing in an outpatient unit. 2 shifts, 6 days a week, every other saturday, 30 chairs Q shift. it was insane. my "preceptors" basically threw me to the wolves. 2 months into it, i was on the floor, the only RN in the building, pushing meds/assessing patients, rounding with doc's and living the crazy life. i transferred units, to a 16 patient, 3 shift, 6 days/week clinic and have loved it. i worked as floor nurse for another year, then charge nurse for a year and a half, and have now taken the DON/CM position. i'm taking this position with a grain of salt as i have a year left of school (adult nurse practitioner tract) so... my experience has been great.. yes, i've lost some of my med-surg touch, but my renal/cardiac knowledge has grown extensively.. i've found that in those areas, i excel among fellow students.. i work pool in a local inner-city hospital every once and a while to brush up on my skills.. but its worked well for me :)

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