Dialysis training

[pennylane2]

I currently work full-time (3/12's) nightshift in ICU. Our current inpatient dialysis dept is staffed with one main dialysis nurse and a couple of others who work on call on weekends to give the main nurse a break (so she's not on 24/7). The opportunity arose to train into dialysis as another part-time nurse. After accepting, I found out that one part-time nurse gave notice and another is retiring next summer. The main nurse is planning on retiring in approx 5 yrs and is hoping I would train and move into her spot permanently and at that time I would be it! At first I had no problem with this, but now I am finding that they have no guaranteed plan for training me. I still work my 3 night shifts, and they call me on my off days to come in when there is a new inpatient that need treatment. I have seen and helped only a handful of times since April because of the lack of opportunities when I'm off work. The only guaranteed training is to send me out of town for a couple of weeks to another facility to have a solid 2 weeks of 9-5 shifts, but even that is not necessarily the exact training I would need to do this job safely. I have asked for guaranteed hours to come in, but have been told the budget doesn't allow for it, since there could be times there are no patients. I have felt guilty when I have to work and they call to tell me there is a pt, but I can't come in to train. I feel like this is becoming a waste of time for all parties. I also don't like saving my days to be on call "in case" a pt comes in, and can't plan anything in depth at home. I think I want to just tell them this isn't working out, but I'm not sure how to tell them. I don't want there to be hard feelings, but I also feel like it's on them for not having a specific plan in place for training. Can someone tell me what their experiences have been to become trained in this area? And does anyone know how I can politely get out of this situation?

[Chisca, RN]

Tell them your lawyer has advised you that the current situation places your nursing license at risk. They would not withstand any state or federal inspection because if they pull your file there isn't any documentation of training. On the job is a poor way to learn hemodialysis and if they are not willing to invest in your training they are unlikely to back you if anything goes wrong. You have great potential because of your ICU background. Seek training and experience elsewhere.