Fresenius as an employer?

Specialties Urology

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Any comments? Was offered a position. What is a typical hourly pay (I'm in northern Delaware).

Can I ask if you had medical surgical or Icu exp like is so broadly touted on this forum? I'm out in AZ and am coming up on completing my 1st yr of work exp but it's light on this type of experience. Nowadays it's virtually impossible to get into a hosp to get the exp that everyone demands, plus it's almost become a seasonal type of work since out here the old people leave when summer comes, the census drops, and they fire everyone!! That's why I took the job I have now, it is virtually guaranteed fulltime work and the pay is at the top for a new grad.....BUT....... I hate nights and am not getting longterm career-building exp, so am ultimately not satisfied, really just making good $$.

I been working for them for 6 months. The pay is not the best, and we'll never get a raise. All the nurses at my job work there for a 1 year and then start looking in a hospital. The only thing good about Fresenius is that they are willing to train you with no experience. Here in NYC, that is awesome.

The Manager told me I had the job and would call me next week to do my drug test. When she did not call me, I called and the staff would never let me speak with her and hurry me off the phone. After my second email to her and her pretending that shes not there she emailed me and said that she is still reviewing applicants like she NEVER told me I had the job. So unprofessional and fishy behavior. Plus they offered me crappy pay, less then I made as an LPN. :angryfire

I was a new grad. I haven't even taken the boards yet. There were about 7 new grads in my orientation who was hired by different Fresenius company in NYC. One day I was searching for a job and I got the entire list of Dialysis companies in Queens New York and started calling all of them. About 50% mention to me if I had experience that they will hire me, but they don't train. Only Fresenius are willing to train you. Also I know because the salarie is low, they know a certain percentage will leave in 1 to 2 yrs but that is okay with them. I appreiciate it because all hospitals have freezes on them, so all my class mates who are working is doing home care. Only 5% found job in a hospital or clinical setting.

Re: Fresenius as an employer?Can I ask if you had medical surgical or Icu exp like is so broadly touted on this forum? I'm out in AZ and am coming up on completing my 1st yr of work exp but it's light on this type of experience. Nowadays it's virtually impossible to get into a hosp to get the exp that everyone demands, plus it's almost become a seasonal type of work since out here the old people leave when summer comes, the census drops, and they fire everyone!! That's why I took the job I have now, it is virtually guaranteed fulltime work and the pay is at the top for a new grad.....BUT....... I hate nights and am not getting longterm career-building exp, so am ultimately not satisfied, really just making good $$.

Originally Posted by BigBoy75 viewpost.gif

I been working for them for 6 months. The pay is not the best, and we'll never get a raise. All the nurses at my job work there for a 1 year and then start looking in a hospital. The only thing good about Fresenius is that they are willing to train you with no experience. Here in NYC, that is awesome.

Specializes in Corrections, neurology, dialysis.

I've been working for them for 4 years and I'm very satisfied. Iworked chronic first but switched to acutes and I'm much happier there. I think working in a chronic unit is drudgery. The pace is slower in acutes and more suited to my personality. I think other people have summed it up nicely - it depends on where you work. Fresenius might be a terrible company, but I've had two different supervisors and loved both of them dearly. I love my coworkers and would do anything for them. When I read these boards and here about the backstabbing and politics they must deal with, I count my blessings every day for the great job I have and the great people I work with.

I'd say give it a try and see if you like it. I hated it in the beginning but stuck with it because I couldn't find anything else. Now I can't imagine doing anything else.

Natkat thanks for that informative reply; I've been told to get a few "shadows" in at some dialysis facilities to get an inside glimpse at the culture, you know the real inside story of how that facility runs. Currently I work in "corrections" which is a great job for a recent grad (4/09) but quite unchallenging/unfulfilling, I'm a science guy and loved the complexities of physiology during school, so yearn to get into more involved work.

Question- if you were to ever leave the dialysis field, what areas would you consider? What skills have you learned working there?

Natkat thanks for that informative reply; I've been told to get a few "shadows" in at some dialysis facilities to get an inside glimpse at the culture, you know the real inside story of how that facility runs. Currently I work in "corrections" which is a great job for a recent grad (4/09) but quite unchallenging/unfulfilling, I'm a science guy and loved the complexities of physiology during school, so yearn to get into more involved work.

Question- if you were to ever leave the dialysis field, what areas would you consider? What skills have you learned working there?

I know you didn't post to me but I'd like to answer your last 2 questions. If I were younger I'd go into flight nursing. I love helicopters. Of course that's not a reason to go into flight nursing. But I still love helicopters. And I would like the autonomy.

And that answer leads to the next question. Autonomy in HD. You get to know the patient's. You know what they can tolerate, you know when they are not "just right". If a patient comes in with a fever and s/s of an infected cath you know to get them onto treatment, draw blood cultures etc. Some of the work is rote but not all. You get to manage a patient's care as well as perform that care. I like seeing my patients often because I can see them get better. Many hospital jobs don't get that. The patients are hardly well when they go home and you don't get to see them get better.

And again if I were younger I'd be an NP and work in HD. Have your own clinic and group of patients and help them stay well.

Just some of the thoughts of an old timer. 15+ years doing chronics but currently working acutes. Not my favs.

Specializes in Med/Surg.

They "always" have openings, many and all the time. That signals to me that they are not retaining nurses. I'd beware.

They "always" have openings, many and all the time. That signals to me that they are not retaining nurses. I'd beware.

So does DaVita. So does American Renal or Liberity Dialysis, or DSI, or DCI. They all do......They may not be retaining nurses but how many new grads do you hear saying they want to work in dialysis. Most of them have never been in a dialysis unit.

Specializes in Corrections, neurology, dialysis.
Natkat thanks for that informative reply; I've been told to get a few "shadows" in at some dialysis facilities to get an inside glimpse at the culture, you know the real inside story of how that facility runs. Currently I work in "corrections" which is a great job for a recent grad (4/09) but quite unchallenging/unfulfilling, I'm a science guy and loved the complexities of physiology during school, so yearn to get into more involved work.

Question- if you were to ever leave the dialysis field, what areas would you consider? What skills have you learned working there?

If I were to leave dialysis I would work in the OR. I've always loved surgery but none of the hospitals in my area were offering OR internships when I graduated. So unless by some miracle someone is willing to train an inexperienced nurse for the OR, I'll probably never get the chance to work in the OR. Other than that, I can't think of anything else I'd rather do. I'm a very laid back, type B person and environments like the ER would not be a good fit for me. No way, no how. Dialysis, at least in the acute setting, is very slow paced, patient ratio is 1:1 with the occasional 2:1.

My reasons are very different from yours. I have no desire to work in a fast-paced environment and don't see myself staying in nursing forever. I'm considering a degree in something else - not nursing - because I really don't enjoy being a nurse, so for me there's no point in trying to go somewhere else and learn new skills. I'd rather spend my time and energy working toward a different career.

I think the greatest skill I've learned is assessment. Someone else mentioned being able to tell when something isn't quit right, and in dialysis I've seen enough patients quickly go downhill that now I can pick up on it a lot faster. I've really acquired an instinct for knowing that a patient isn't doing well and might be getting ready to code. I will never forget the day I heard agonal respirations for the first time. I was thinking "gee this guy has really bad sleep apnea" and suddenly it dawned on me that it wasn't sleep apena but agonal respirations. Because in acute dialysis we monitor the patient throughout treatment, we get a better chance to observe the patient and so are able to spot sudden changes that a floor nurse won't see because they are being pulled in to many directions at once and may not be at the beside when changes happen. So I feel lucky to have acquired that skill.

Another useful skill is dealing with difficult personalities and psych/social issues. Dialysis patients have lots of these issues and I found it difficult to handle at first. Over time I've learned to size up a person's personality and figure out their issues, when to talk and when to be quiet, and not let them get to me. I do get sick and tired of dealing with families talking to me like I'm stupid and seemingly trying to bust my balls, as it were, over stupid petty things. That's what's driving me away from nursing, truth be told. I love medicine but I'm sick and tired of dealing with abusive family members. Learning how to blow them off is a skill I wish I could acquire, and the sooner the better would be helpful.

The COnditions state regulations for RNs and it is pretty scarey, as far as I am concerned, to have a NEW RN be put on the floor even with training being given. There are so many things that can happen and it is not a cookie cutter treatment although as far as I can tell providers do a cookie cutter training. RNs will tell you it takes years esp when complications arise iwth m achines, etc....

i have an interview for a patient care tech position with a fresenius chicago location in a few days. i have no dialysis experience and this would be my first time working in years (i just recertified as a cna). i don't expect a smooth ride, but what do i have to "brush up" on, or what shall i expect as a pct? and is it true that once you're trained by fresenius that you are certified as a dialysis tech? if not, what type of certification does one get? how long is training? pct pay rate and pay raise? is it on the job or in a "practice" location? what are some queestions i should ask the interviewer? and could someone explain the differences between acute and chronic dialysis -and what were your experiences with them? i'm posting this based on things i've read via internet, and just trying to prepare myself for a new chapter of working in my life and with the company. i'd appreciate any detailed feedback. thank you much! :)

I have applied with this company twice now, with a hook up on the inside! I was called to interview and the manager said she'd call me back. I went in when I was called for my second interview where the manager said we'd talk about the pay they were offering to me. Well, once I had driven the 45 minutes to get there the manager makes me wait over an hour to see her. Then she tells me they are still interviewing and she'd be in touch. Ummm.....ok, why not be courteous and call me and mention that before wasting my time? I think it was a blessing in disguise. My friend ended up hating the company because they won't hire enough staff and are always pushing them to be quick! Now, she's kinda stuck there, ick!

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