Davita Do or Don't?

Don2014 · Jul 13, 2014

Hi! I'm in the same situation. I'm a new grad (passed NCLEX last week!) and a local DaVita clinic offered me an attractive hourly rate, but I only have experience working in hospitals. My solution was to shadow a nurse for a 12 hour shift to see what a typical day would look like and to see if I would be a good fit. I recommend that you do the same, since the likes and dislikes on this site seem to be facility specific. Find out: how well it is staffed (and if they plan on changing in the near future), what the patient loads and responsibilities are, how supportive the staff is to each other. I had good experience and plan on accepting the position. It may be worth a day to check it out. The orientation is about 3 months and pretty intense from what I was told by other nurses. Best of luck!

boylibra2003, BSN, RN · Aug 6, 2014

I have an an invitation interview from Davita on Aug 7, 2014. Usually what is there starting rate? What are their interview questions?

padai · Oct 20, 2014

I have had 2 interviews already and about to fly to Arizona next month for the last interview. Would like to know what happen to you and if you took the job. Please let me know.

MizChelleRN · Oct 21, 2014

Davita is good for allowing a candidate to shadow for a few hours to see if they are a good fit. An independent chain in NE Ohio did the same for me. You really don't know what goes on in dialysis until you see/experience it. We say this all the time on this site: you either love it or hate it.

I almost always discourage new grads from getting into dialysis. Number one I need you to get some good real world experience, assessment skills snd snap decision making abilities. In many cases you are your own only resource. A good experienced tech can make decent decisions in an emergency but ultimately it's your ass on the line. You better be confident in a decision you make in an instant. Plus a new grad almost pigeon holes himself in dialysis (a pretty extreme specialty) and if he decides to go find something else, the specialty experience might be a hindrance rather than an asset. Please don't flame me for those opinions. Of course there are exceptions, notably technicians who become nurses so they can be dialysis nurses.

Veering back on topic.....

Davita vs. Fresenius blah blah blah.....have you ever worked in an environment with a rival company? Or even think about your favorite football team rivalry. You can villainize one company or another but if you look closer, you see it's still just hardworking dedicated nurses and techs just trying to do their jobs and give good care. Some care more, some care less. Every single clinic has a unique culture a unique dynamic that makes it different. It also depends on the level of leadership in the clinic. A manager can be people driven, business driven or money driven. You can pick up on this dynamic almost immediately when coming into a clinic.

If you're truly interested in nephrology, get into it. Immerse yourself into learning the specialty. Then you will become the driving force in what kind of culture you work in. Dialysis needs leaders. Needs strong, smart personalities. If you are the force that leads and drives your unit, you will work in a calming (? Lol calming?) Environment where you know what's going on with every person (patient and tech!) in your unit. If no one has a firm grasp on the reigns, the whole team feels like they are in chaos, an unqualified person is probably running the show, and the v linic is not providing safe care.

Are you the nurse others can look up to, to lead and anchor their unit? Believe me, the staff nurse in tge unit is the driving force. The manager has a pretty hands off role, running the behind-the-scenes and we rely on the face of the clinic to be the leader.

Did I veer off topic again? Where are you at in your career? Hungry for knowledge? Eager to learn? Seasoned and experienced?

Oh and the money.....don't be fooled by the offer of a nice salary. Often the more attractive the offer (think huge sign on bonuses!) the more challenging the clinic. Go with your gut and don't let the flash of money drive you. After taxes, we all make the same give or take anyways.

Oh and don't get me started on money. Nephrology is going broke quickly. We don't get reimbursed nearly what it costs to keep the clinic afloat (unless you have a high commercial mix, not likely in poorer communities) and Medicare reimbursement is about to get way tighter, read: do more with less. We are careful to count how many 2x2 gauze pads each patient gets, careful not to waste one blue chux pad. They constantly drill down on the clinic for staffing, cost per treatment, and yes you feel like all management cares about is the almighty dollar. But we have to be so cost effective just to keep our doors open.

Good luck to all of you! I might work for one of the big 2 but injust want to see good people in place in my specialty, don't care what company ya work for. These renal patients deserve quality nursing care.

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Nov 2, 2014

Great post MizChelleRN

padai · Nov 19, 2014

Thank you so much MizChelleRN for your post, I have got the offer with Davita, but I also have an offer for L&D, so confused , don't know which one to pick. They both sound great with different opportunities and experience to offer. I really felt that I was meant to be a dialysis nurse after spending a few hours with one of the nurse that works there. For some reason I have always wanted to work in a hospital to get the acute care experience that everyone is asking for, but during my tour at the L&D unit I was so scared and did not feel comfortable. Seriously I don't know what to decide I am so Lost:banghead:

culverboy · Nov 20, 2014

Hi all.. Does anyone how much is the rate for a nurse on a hire- ahead program with davita? And are they also eligible for benefits too? Thank you!