Gaining stability and experience

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Hi everyone,

I am a recent grad and have been working in dialysis for 7 months. Since, I have started, I have been floating from chronic clinics throughout my region. As a new grad, I am not gaining any stability for learning or growth. I feel used, unstable, and in limbo. The region does not have a permanent position open, since I have been transfer unvoluntarily out of my original clinic. My next duty is at a clinic where it is large, under construction, unorderly, long hours of operation and again I don't think it will be conducive to my growth into a charge nurse position. No one is taking the time out to provide a stable place for me to grow. It's like a flower trying to blossom but is always dug up and replanted. Its making me dislike the field of dialysis. Nonetheless, truth is my goal is to get a position in the hospital as I work on my MSN, because I ultimately want to become a nurse professor. Should just keep "going with the flow" to gain experience and have income, or go PRN (i lose benefits, and stable pay) to eliminate floating stress, because I don't adapt well to these constant change of position/location. It makes me feel like an outcast or outsider, instead of a part of the team/company.

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

I am sorry you are having a horrible experience in dialysis because it can be a great job.

As you have gained so much experience and believe me you will have, maybe you could look to the other chronic dialysis units in your area. There are a lot of companies out there who are looking for RNs

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Specializes in Med Surg, Geriatrics and dialysis.

Have you considered working the acutes? Now, you may be floated between hospitals. It might give you "the foot in the door" to working in a hospital because you will be working in an care acute setting.

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Specializes in Dialysis.

As a float RN in a region, I enjoy the change. I cannot see doing that as a new RN esp new to dialysis. I have done acutes, charge and manager before being a travel nurse, then started floating. Every unit does the same thing a little different. Just have to know what is required. As a new nurse you already have alot of self doubt and second guess yourself, THEN may have experienced techs take advantage of you. Not a good scene for you.

I agree with fanfan8787rn, acutes was pretty interesting. Then you can handle almost anything!

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I am new to dialysis (1 year now) and have found myself having to rely on the techs for information. The problem is that many of them are not as willing to help a RN learn (as many have a "chip on their shoulder" for being paid less). I am looking to transfer to acutes, but question if I have enough knowledge base to be on my own? The techs where I work do most of the recircing when pt's have to get to the bathroom..........I am comfortable putting pt's on and taking off, but still not 100% sure with maching alarms, etc....... Is it feasible to transfer to acutes with being unsure yet in the chronic setting???

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Specializes in Corrections, neurology, dialysis.
I am new to dialysis (1 year now) and have found myself having to rely on the techs for information. The problem is that many of them are not as willing to help a RN learn (as many have a "chip on their shoulder" for being paid less). I am looking to transfer to acutes, but question if I have enough knowledge base to be on my own? The techs where I work do most of the recircing when pt's have to get to the bathroom..........I am comfortable putting pt's on and taking off, but still not 100% sure with maching alarms, etc....... Is it feasible to transfer to acutes with being unsure yet in the chronic setting???

It is possible. Tell them you need orientation and they'll put you with an experienced nurse. In the meantime learn what you can as far as trouble shooting machine problems and access problems. You probably already know more than you realize. And it's funny how when you're in a situation and you're by yourself, you can figure things our pretty well. I work for a good time and anytime I have a question or can't troubleshoot something, my coworkers are glad to help. Hopefully that will be the case for you too.

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After floating around numerous clinics, I have yet to meet one (well only one, literally) nurse who has done acute setting and enjoyed it. Most hated it and transferred to chronics. In acutes you are on call, which means you can drive to the hospital to do possibly one treatment, have no patients, go home, only to be called back to the hospital as a doctor orders another patient to diaylize. Moreover, you can be called in beyond dusk (night). This is only what I hear, not by experience. So find out more information before you jump into acutes. Best wishes.

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