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

Specialties Urology

Published

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???????????

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Specializes in Critical Care.

As a charge nurse you may have 12 patients but you will also have a secondary nurse and at least 2 techs backing you up.

Beware tho, DaVita can be a dificult place to work, especially if your initial preceptor is a tech. There's a big Nurse vs Tech mentality at DaVita and from what I'm finding out it's not the nurses that are behind it as you are first lead to believe.

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Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.

I tried it for a while and it was a disaster in my case...

I would recommend NOT doing it. Do you have other positions you are thinking about?

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I don't really have a back up plan, Im trying to find something in the nursing field that is low stress and interesting, I thought that this might be it.

Not sure what to do now.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Dialysis is interesting but it is HARD work and for some that is stressfull in and of itself.

From what I'm experiencing and what I've heard from all over the country, Dialysis, especially working for DaVita is stressfull.

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I don't recommend outpatient dialysis for new grads; in this setting, there may not be any other RN willing to mentor you, and the training can be very inconsistent (as pp has said, you may initially be "trained" and evaluated by a PCT - someone who you are supposed to supervise!)

Also, even if you feel comfortable in such a setting (where you may at times be the only RN, responsible for anything that could happen - such as a code), dialysis is very specialized. You may have difficulty moving to another area of nursing, especially acute care, if you immediately specialize after school.

Good luck to you!

DeLana

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Specializes in Nephrology.

I have been in dialysis 15 years and am employed by DaVita for the past 18 months, I have found the environment to be exceptional. 12 patients is the state regulation, these 12 patients will be divided to 4 patients per PCT. The RN is repsonsible for overseeing the treatments, adminsitering medications, putting catheter patients on and off treatment of 12 patients. some days can be more hectic than others, that is common with any position. However, I am finding that being a part of the DaVita team is very fulfilling. Take care and good luck.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

It is really good to hear a positive DaVita story. I know they're out there.

The center I worked for had a VERY bad reputation, but I put on my rose colored glasses and ignored all the warnings I was given from past employees etc. I gave it the old college try but aparently they try to live up to their reputation. Which is terrible in and of itsself, but with it being a national company it's even worse. They aren't just trashing their reputation but that of their company nation wide.

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Specializes in jack of all trades.

I currently work for Davita and have been for a total of 7 months now. From day 1 i have been essentially the only licensed person on the floor and have no more than 3 pcts to work with. We have 14 chairs. I am responsible not only for meds, assessments, monthly notations or emergencies but I also put on, take off, clean the machines and everything else the techs do. If on the phone regarding a pt and it's change over time - I found out very quickly thats a no-no. They want you on the floor pulling and sticking needles. They utilize a chart for staffing called an SWC which doesnt allot for pt acuity. We get alot of stretcher pts and amputees that take a great deal of assistance. Lately we have been working with only 3 on the floor on Sats (1 nurse 2 pct). Sometimes there is an LPN but she tends to short cut alot of the task of which I am not willing to do. Please as a new grad get your feet wet in med/surg, critical care or somewhere else. I came from the critical setting and am seriously considering returning. Dont get me wrong I love dialysis but the chronic setting I dont get to give my pts what I feel is quality rather than quanitity. We get a 15 min break around 8am and I dont get lunch until around 1:30pm. Considering I open and close the clinic running 3 shifts of pts. I have a wonderful FA but she has her hands tied by the company when it comes to containment of cost. Instead of a 2 day drunk fest at the academy I'd rather have staff.

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Specializes in Nephrology.

I am fortunate I expect, my FA will get out on the floor and support her staff, we are the top clinic in the area. I myself, work in peritoneal dialysis, although, I am certified in hemodialysis as well. I did acute dialysis for years and for me this is the best position. There were days that I worked 14-18 hours, yes, even 24 in a row in the hospital setting, this is unsafe for the patient and the nurse. I have 25 patients of my own that I see on a regular basis and am responsible for all the education and teaching. I too, would advise getting some med-surg under your belt, it really helps.

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It is very interesting to read what everyone has to say about Davita. I do not work for them so I will not comment on the environment in which they foster. I do know that Davita is a for profit corp. and that when you mix healthcare with for profit someone up top is wanting a big pay check and they don’t usually care what happens down below. Oh they say they care but provide you with minimum support as to increase profit. Public record shows that the Davita CEO Kent J.Thiry’s compensation package last year was over 27 million Dollars http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/12/IPFN.html. That’s for one of the higher ups. That means the profit margin had to be a lot more than that. I think profit is good if it is put to good use. In fact you can function as a healthcare facility for very long without profit. Profit should be put back into the community in terms of research and grants that improve upon the quality of persons with the disease. Not so a few people can have a bigger pool, a jet and 4 homes basically profiting off of the illness of others. Just my feelings on the subject.

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I am a nurse manager for a non profit dialysis center. It is by far the best job in nursing I have ever had. I have worked in both for and non profit centers and I hope to retire from the company I am with now. So, my advice, look for a dialysis job at a non profit!

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