Future nursing career after working in Therapeutic Apheresis?

[kkgatorgal]

Hi there nurses,

I am a newly-licensed RN BSN who has been working as a Therapeutic Apheresis nurse for the last few months. Nursing is my second career, and even though I'm almost 29, this is the first RN position I have had. I understand that Therapeutic Apheresis is highly specialized, and because of such I'm nervous about getting to the next step in my nursing career (whenever that may be). I don't have one specific area of nursing that I "have to be in," and I tend to have an open mind in regards to where life may decide to take me, but I wanted to poll the community and ask what direction I should possibly be looking to follow? Infusion nursing is something I heard, and I'd have to do more research about it as I'm not too familiar, but are there any other nurses out there who might see a benefit in what I'm currently doing and how it might relate to their current units?

I apologize if this post is garbled and difficult to digest. Sometimes the meaning behind my words get lost in translation when transferring thoughts onto a written page

[Asystole RN]

There is nothing that limits your career in nursing...

That being said, I would first decide what kind of setting and schedule that you like to work. Do you like the outpatient setting or want to work in acute care? Do you want patient care or do you want a more procedural type of work?

[NurseRies, BSN, RN]

Why not think about transitioning into an acute dialysis program that also does therapeutic apheresis? Experiences Apheresis nurses are hard to come by anymore, they would prob hire you up in a second and then train you on hemodialysis, which requires similar skills. Acute dialysis nurses get to see all types of patients. We go to many of the ICU's, mainly cardiac and treating people with sepsis. We see drug overdoses, acute renal failure caused by anything from flu, to rhabdomyolosis, to rare genetic disorders, to infections and dehydration or blood loss. We also treat chronic patient that are in for orthopedic surgeries, GI troubles, cancer, pneumonia, etc. We see many types of patients. My experiences as an acute dialysis nurse has led me to the conclusion that I do not want to be a floor nurse. Not ICU, or med surg, or rehab. But since I have been exposed to all those types of nursing, I have been able to see the ins and outs of how it works. If you are interested in hospital nursing, this would be a great transitional position. I would recommend looking for jobs with Fresenius or Davita acute dialysis programs. But if you could find an in house dialysis program run by a University, that's usually the best opportunity! Especially for benefits and ability to transition into another unit if desired. Your skills as a plasmapheresis nurse could also land you a great PRN or part time position with one of these programs and probably for great pay. You may be specialized, but you can use this to your advantage! I know some PRN apheresis nurses that make bank! Dialysis would certainly hire you and may be an easier transition into something else. Good luck!