Dialysis Nursing-New Grad

euclidlady · May 20, 2015

HI Mmcknight,

Dialysis is either something you really love or you really hate, that may be why you have seen some negative remarks about it but I love dialysis. I was a dialysis technician for 12 years and recently graduated from nursing school. I now work in the ICU but I still PRN in the hospital dialysis unit. If I had to choose which dialysis facility to pick it would most likely be fresenius because I prefer how they run things but every company has its issues. As far as it being hard, dialysis is just like any other are of nursing as far as learning new things and policies and procedures and just seeing if it is a right fit for you. I hope my comment helps, give dialysis a try, it's actually a really great area to be in.

idodialysis · May 20, 2015

I've worked for both Davita and Fresenius. Neither company is "bad" per se, but if the facility manager is not good at her job it can be a difficult situation. If you are interviewing for a position, I would ask to shadow for a shift or two to try to discern the unit culture. That can be helpful in knowing whether that job will be a good fit for you.

Mmcknight · May 21, 2015

Thank you @euclidlady and @idodialysis for your thoughtful responses! I will try shadowing the two clinics I am looking into. Hopefully it will work out!

Chisca, RN · May 21, 2015

If you think we're negative check out this site.

http://www.ihatedialysis.com/

SpringCandyRN · May 22, 2015

It depends on how the unit is run by the management and who you work with. If your co nurses and techs work as a team, then you will like or maybe love dialysis.

Some days it's like you're on a vacation, some days it's very stressful.

Overall not so bad. Also, you only have to deal with very few medications such as Epogen, Hectorol, Iron and some occasional antibiotics.

I started my RN career with hemodialysis for 3 years now and not plan on leaving yet.

five10fevr, ASN, RN · May 26, 2015

I have worked for two different companies one as a tech and one as a RN. As others have said, you either love it or hate it. You have your good days and your bad days. Your day can have 27 catheter patients with only 2 nurses and it runs smooth or you can have 14 catheter patients with 3 nurses and it is hectic as can be. You are always on the go, but in the chronic unit you get to know your patients. You build a relationship with them and you know how much fluid you can take off, who will cramp and who's BP will tank. I love the chronic unit for that reason. I also love doing acute dialysis for the fact I get to teach the first time dialysis patient all about their disease process.

Give it a try, but ask to shadow both units to see which ones flow runs smoother and how the nurses work together. That is so important. Best of luck.

jdethman · May 27, 2015

Dialysis is a great field. The Internet is where people come to complain.