Doing refresher course or start dialysis?

[ReeShee]

Hello fellow nurses, i need some good advice, BTW im a foreign nurse graduated in the philippines 2008, just got my USRN license lasy year. I started working at rehab after passing the exam but im always scared whenever im at work, i told my manager i cant do the job coz after 2 weeks of training they want me to float around the whole building, i just felt like im risking my license whenver i go to work so i decided to stay on 1 cart and just doing 2 days per week. I got really depressed thinking i almost forgot how to be a nurse, i decided to enroll for nursing refresher course so i can regain my confidence, im gonna start next month(april) but today dialysis center called me, they said i got in at dialysis center and they are willing to train me. They also know that ive been out of the proffesion for 4 years, they are offering me extensive training, now im torn between doing the refresher or gettinh the job, the reason i wanna do the refresher is to get a job outside LTC and be more confident, i dont know if i will just get the dialysis since they are going to give me good training. I hope u guys can give me advice from this thank u so much in advance!

[dianah, ASN]

It depends what your career goals are.

Dialysis position sounds like good training and support for that highly-specialized position.

Are there good advancement opportunities?

You could certainly move almost anywhere in the country with that experience, and still work in the dialysis area (there are in-patient and out-patient centers, of necessity, in many places).

If you wish a broader area of experience, you may want to opt for the refresher course, then see where it leads you; hopefully that will be out of rehab, if that is your goal. There are, of course, no guarantees.

You would probably have to scout around for employment opportunities and match the requirements for them.

Good luck!

[manle88rn]

Just an opinion. I would say not to waste time on the refresher course. I have worked in LTC and the nurse's duty is majority med pass and many places wanted to cut cost by making nurses work on the floor early. I feel like you feel unprepared because the facility did not give you enough training for someone who is considered "new".

I'm not pushing you to either direction because everyone is different. I have worked in LTC and currently new to dialysis. In my opinion, I'm enjoying dialysis nurse better. Of course, there is a lot of learning but it would get easier other time.

[kaiabella]

@ReeShee: dialysis is also a tough job because you deal with machines. since you also don't have a dialysis experience, even if you have RN license they will train you first as a dialysis tech so you know how to do dialysis before you become a charge nurse.

[HeatherWeather]

I'm considering the exact same things! What did you decide and why?

[rizahawkeye, BSN, RN]

Hi! I'm currently working in a chronic dialysis facility and I also came from Philippines.

Training in a dialysis facility gave me a lot of growth, both personally and professionally. The training is extensive, and rough. But it is also good since you will be focusing on this specialty. You will review the theories of dialysis and the A & P of the kidney. Then later on you will learn the technical things (e.g. setting up machines, cannulating patients, accessing the central venous catheter), then you will learn the company policies and procedures. It is hard, but it takes time to learn. You will learn a lot everyday, even if you're out of the training.

I agree with the first comment. If you want a broader experience, maybe refresher courses are better for you.

[brabag]

Hi I will be working as an acute dialysis nurse soon. Can I email you ? One question I have is what do you do in an emergency situation? For example if the patients BP is dropping quickly ? Thank you.

[GapRN]

I know this thread is old but I thought it was important to warn people off of a refresher course unless it is free and you don't have anything else to do with your time. I graduated 2009 during the recession and was unemployed for 1.5 years. Admittedly I did network with some students who pointed me towards home health but the course itself was a waste of time and money and it took the promise of removing my yelp review to get a refund when the promised preceptorship fell through. I think all of these private "colleges" that rent space out of retired high schools are scams looking for gov't and student debt handouts.