Help , I have 2 jobs offer.

SWRN84 · Jun 27, 2005

I wish I could help you, but haven't worked in either. Just wanted to say good luck and it's great that you have options to choose from. I know you'll get some responses. It can be stressful looking for a change, a new job and actually accepting one. I'll be starting a new job on July 25....very exciting, but the process of getting there has been stressful. Good luck to you....it's good that you are asking for advice. :)

IMustBeCrazy · Jun 27, 2005

Personally I would choose hemodialysis. Yes you would have a lot to learn, but you would be working (from what I have witnessed anyway) with one patient at a time and the hours are wonderful. I have no personal experience in this area, but I think your background would be useful in this area as well. I'm sure there is stress (what nursing job doesn't have it?) but I suspect you would like it.

Nursing homes in theory are a great place to work. I can speak from experience here. However, if you don't like the idea of being responsible for 30+ residents per shift and responsible for assessments, treatments, med pass and charting, not to mention supervising unlicensed staff (a major PIA in most cases) then don't take that job. Personally it was hard for me to see so many residents getting such substandard care due to unwillingness of management to hire and most importantly retain staff. I know there are some institutions that provide wonderful, appropriate care, but most don't due to severe understaffing.

Good luck with your decision.

sipapu · Jun 28, 2005

I currently work in a chronic hemo unit and have also done acutes. As one who has done it, the hours ARE NOT ALWAYS WONDERFUL. Make sure you ask alot of questions. I worked 16 hour days, many many days in acutes and then took call all night and on week-ends. Although you sometimes get to take care of one patient at a time, some acute settings will have you doing two at once and some acutes are in a clinic within the hospital with several staff members. So get the facts first. My acute experience, more often than not, was often a 24/7 experience. Make sure you get LOTS of training because once your out there, your on your own and the biomed back-up could be an hour away...well frankly, there are just a number of variables that can occur that turn your 6 hour day into a 16. Remember too, that dialysis patients are usually the sickest most fragile patients in the hospital, even the ones in med/surg units are always potentially just one infection away from the ICU or death. Again, GET LOTS OF TRAINING FIRST. Most nurses start in a chronic unit and then later (like a year or more) go to acutes. Good luck. I don't mean to put a damper on your decisions but acutes is not a cake walk by any means. And, there are actually days where you can read a magazine (or so they told me).

Hi everyone,
I am currently working at a med-surg floor for about a year now since I graduated from nursing school. I'm looking to switch job to a slower pace environment due to the stress. I had an interview to work for acute hemodialysis and another one at a nursing home. They both offered me the job. However, since I didn't know much about hemodialysis I checked allnurses. After I read several threads I wonder If hemodialysis is for me. I preferred hemo over the nursing home due to no sundays. I have to make my decision by tomorrow please help. Is Hemodialysis as stressful as med-surg?
Thanks.