Dialysis RN vs Critical Care ICU RN?

Published

Will I gain valuable critical care expereince in a acute dialysis nurse role (working with critical Pts needing treatments in the hospital setting)? Someday, I hope to work as a OR Nurse or possible ICU or maybe even L&D? Please help. :confused: Am, I on the right tract?? Any help will be apreciated. I need motivation!!! I am a new GRAD. :nurse:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Dialysis (acute & chronic).

In my opinion, I feel you need a critical care background or ICU background before you venture into doing acute dialysis treatments. I personally would never hire a new grad for an acute position or even a outpatient position.

If you want to go to the OR or ICU, why don't you apply for an ICU position first? I don't think you will gain the knowledge needed for those positions if you start out in any dialysis position.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Dialysis.

ICU first. There is a real element of what I call "factory" nursing in the dialysis setting. Patients are treated like they are on an assembly line with the emphasis being on productivity and speed. A nurse with good ICU skills sees the whole patient and is attuned to recognize a problem before it becomes a disaster. Without critical care experience you will just be the person running the dialysis machine and will have to rely on others to assess what's really going on with your patient.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Dialysis (acute & chronic).
ICU first. There is a real element of what I call "factory" nursing in the dialysis setting. Patients are treated like they are on an assembly line with the emphasis being on productivity and speed. A nurse with good ICU skills sees the whole patient and is attuned to recognize a problem before it becomes a disaster. Without critical care experience you will just be the person running the dialysis machine and will have to rely on others to assess what's really going on with your patient.

I agree with Chisca. :nurse:

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

ICU first too.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well, gotta get a call in ICU first. How do I get expereince if they are not hiring new grads. Maybe I should not say that I am a new grad. I have a little over 1 year of med/surge exp. and I have been a LPN for 3 years working in the prison setting also as a recovery room nurse. I am asking if I should consider Dialysis nursing or go into some subacute facility for critical care exp until something opens up in the area I really want to work? ? ? just questions....

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well, gotta get a call in ICU first. How do I get expereince if they are not hiring new grads. Maybe I should not say that I am a new grad. I have a little over 1 year of med/surge exp. and I have been a LPN for 3 years working in the prison setting also as a recovery room nurse. I am asking if I should consider Dialysis nursing or go into some subacute facility for critical care exp until something opens up in the area I really want to work? ? ? just questions....

What direction shouldI go. I am interested in ICU, L&D/Mother Baby, or Surgical nursing...???

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks ladies. I have applied everywhere. I was offered a acute Rn role and I am just having doubts about taking it, should continue to look or wok in a sub-acute nursing facility? just trying to make the best decision:uhoh3:.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I think if your job market is tight (as it is many places) you should take what you can get and then sort things out later.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am facing a similar dilemma. I graduated in December last year and am a licensed RN. This is my second career. I want to work in critical care, preferably in pediatrics. The job market is tough but I just got offered a job in a dialysis clinic. They will train me to become a dialysis nurse. I have not yet accepted the job because I am worried to disqualify myself from critical care. However...

I did speak with several people, critical care RNs, a VP of Patient Care Services, and others. They all agree that working in dialysis can absolutely lead into critical care. The reason is that dialysis patients are complex patients, similar to what one would find in critical care. However, in the dialysis setting, time management skills may not be learned, because one usually is only working with one patient at a time. The VP told me that as long as I can relate my skills and sell myself, it is absolutely good experience!

With your experience in med-surg plus your experience as an LVN, you should be able to find a position as a Staff RN II or higher. You really don't need much additional training. If you aren't already doing so, be sure to not just apply online, but call the recruiters, try to meet with them. Call the RN managers or educators and ask to meet with them. Network. Knowing the person behind the piece of paper - in any industry - gives you an edge. Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Well, gotta get a call in ICU first. How do I get expereince if they are not hiring new grads. Maybe I should not say that I am a new grad. I have a little over 1 year of med/surge exp. and I have been a LPN for 3 years working in the prison setting also as a recovery room nurse. I am asking if I should consider Dialysis nursing or go into some subacute facility for critical care exp until something opens up in the area I really want to work? ? ? just questions....

With this background, I would absolutely take the acute dialysis position. I assume they will train you well. When I worked acute dialysis, the nurse I respected the most had started there as a brand new grad (when they still hired new grads, 10 years ago) and her only "problem" was not very good with "sticks" (you get much more experience doing cannulation in chronic- i.e., clinic - dialysis than in acutes); she could manage, though. And as I said, she was a wonderful dialysis nurse (cannulation isn't everything!)

And you should have no problem with trying to transition into ICU from there, IMHO (again, because you are not a new grad and have some previous acute care experience).

Best of luck to you!

DeLana

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology.

I went from chronic clinic to acute team, and if you are an active nurse you will pick up a lot as an acute dialysis nurse. Like yours my end goal was to get into critical care. A lot of the people you work with have contacts in ICUs all around the city in which you live. You will also be going to these ICUs at all hours of the night (nothing good about call it hurts). Many people have said ICU first. They are all correct if you can but if not then take the acute job, it will be what you make it. After a year or so some night ICU managers told me to apply to their ICU, but it’s tough to move to nights only and take a pay cut. I wish you luck, I love being part of an acute team.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion