Help with Interview @ a Dialysis Center

RN4840 · Dec 7, 2005

Hi! I worked as a Dialysis nurse for 3 1/2 years. I only left the position because I got married and moved 2 hours away where there is not a dialysis center. Dialysis is the most rewarding, fufilling, educational job I have ever had! I miss it dearly. It is a demanding job. I'm not sure how big the center is that your interviewing at. The center I worked at had 22 stations so each nurse had 3-4 patients. Most patients come in 3 days a week for 4 hours. The dialysis nurse, or tech is responsible for initiating treatment, monitoring the patient during the treatment and discontinuing treatment. You are also responsible for giving certain medications on treatment, monitoring blood pressure, machine alarms, and patient teaching. Dialysis is a specialty and there is alot to learn. The machines are not intimidating, it's just a matter of getting use to working with them. You need to be flexible and a quick thinker. A person's blood pressure can drop, they can pass out on you or code in no time flat. You need to be alert and watch your patient's closely. The good thing is you get to know them well and develop special relationships with them. You will hopefully have a long orientation period and then work with a preceptor. If I can help more please let me know. Good luck~ :nurse:

Cntw82BanRN · Dec 7, 2005

Hi! I worked as a Dialysis nurse for 3 1/2 years. I only left the position because I got married and moved 2 hours away where there is not a dialysis center. Dialysis is the most rewarding, fufilling, educational job I have ever had! I miss it dearly. It is a demanding job. I'm not sure how big the center is that your interviewing at. The center I worked at had 22 stations so each nurse had 3-4 patients. Most patients come in 3 days a week for 4 hours. The dialysis nurse, or tech is responsible for initiating treatment, monitoring the patient during the treatment and discontinuing treatment. You are also responsible for giving certain medications on treatment, monitoring blood pressure, machine alarms, and patient teaching. Dialysis is a specialty and there is alot to learn. The machines are not intimidating, it's just a matter of getting use to working with them. You need to be flexible and a quick thinker. A person's blood pressure can drop, they can pass out on you or code in no time flat. You need to be alert and watch your patient's closely. The good thing is you get to know them well and develop special relationships with them. You will hopefully have a long orientation period and then work with a preceptor. If I can help more please let me know. Good luck~

Hi, Thank you for replying back. Can you tell me the difference between a dialysis nurse a dialysis tech? What is the difference between their responsibilities. I know for sure us RN's provide and administer medications. Yesterday I received the call from the diaslysis center ( in my answering machine) but I have not return the call because I wasn't sure what to ask them and what they will ask me. Any idea? Are the dialysis machines user friendly? he-he-he-he....How long do you think will take to get use to them and what is a good orientation period? Thank you soooo much....

RN4840 · Dec 7, 2005

The difference between the dialysis RN and LPN may vary in your state. Where I worked both RNs, LPN's and Techs could insert the dialysis needles into the graft or fistula and initiate dialysis. Only the RNs and LPN's could initiate dialysis through a central line or lifesite access. The Charge nurse oversee's all the RNs, LPN's and Techs. The tech can initiate dialysis, discontinue dialysis and monitor the patient but they are trained and need to let a nurse know right away if there is something unusual happening with the patient. The nurses and the Tech's should work as a team to help each other out. Of course as the one with the license you will need to know what to do if an adverse situation should arise. Where I worked we had 3 months orientation. The 1st month was spent in class and with the education coordinator learning how to thread the machines etc. The rest of the time was spent with a preceptor. The dialysis machines are not to hard to use. There are several different brands so I'm not sure what the center you are looking at uses. By the time you are done with orientation you should feel comfortable with the machines. My interview was like that of any other job. They ask why you wanted to be a nurse, why dialysis interests you, your experience, etc. You could ask them about how their center runs, how many patients they have, how many shifts they are open, ask them about their mission statement. I would ask about hours and benefits.

Hope this helps

RN4840:nurse:

Midwest4me · Dec 13, 2005

Congrats on getting your RN!:) I am an LPN, worked in dialysis for almost 5 years. The field is very fast-paced, challenging, rewarding. I worked for two different companies during the 5 years. With each company, orientation lasted 8 weeks,involving "floor training"(training on "the setting up and tearing down of" machines) and book training where you're taught the principles of dialysis, various emergencies that can/do arise and are tested on this knowledge. Even at the end of 8 weeks you may not feel "ready" to take on all the responsibilities but you have to jump in with both feet. At some point during the latter part of orientation hopefully you will be given the "nurse training"(your role as the lead-worker for your team--coordinating setting up machines of your own (well some nurses have to do that),monitoring your patients, then checking the patients and their machines that the techs have dealt with, admin. meds, contacting MDs, etc.) The training usually include nurses and techs. The techs have to be state-certified and sometimes nationally certifiied. They take special exams to be certified. Dialysis is a definite team-oriented field---you, as the nurse,are the leader, so to speak, but it has to be a team effort.

donroberto · Dec 15, 2005

The key elements required for the position are teamwork, willing to learn and being able to multi task at a high level. The fact that you survived the rigors of nursing school is an indication that you can think....the key is to be able to process the information in an organized way so that you are always two steps ahead. It will take you at least one year before you feel comfortable working as the 'charge nurse/team leader' in a clinic. At our clinic pct's are required to take off and put on 4 patients. This will be a challenge for quite some time....do not discouraged. The nursing aspect meds/charting/interventions is a little bit more cerebral however after mastering the take off and put on ritual....it will seem like a walk in the park...good luck. (PS...my nickname was Mr Spaghetti Lines at the beginning because of how I would string a machine).