Hemodialysis versus Med-Surg

[EnergizerNurse]

As my graduation date approaches, I've been indecisive about where I should work during my first year as an RN.

The stresses of med-surg have already taken their toll on me (i.e., high nurse:patient ratios, negative attitudes of nursing staff, being on one's feet for countless hours, and the painful consequences at the end of the shift).

Would I be limiting myself if I were to go directly into hemodialysis? If I later choose to do home care, would employers ignore me because of my lack of med-surg experience?

[s9283]

I think it is a good idea to get at least 1 yr medsurg experience. I learned so much working on a medsurg floor. You work with different types of pts everyday with many different medical problems and illnesses. People with ESRD have multiple medical issues and working on a medsurg floor lets you work with all these different types of problems, see the medications that they are recieving, and the treatment they are recieving from doctors and nurses. I think you will feel more confident and prepared for many different situations that can arise while a pt is on dialysis if you work on a medsurg floor first.

I dont think you would have a hard time getting a dilaysis job without previous experience. The dilaysis clinics in my area happily higher new grads. Usually what I have seen with home care is that employers what a nurse with experience in medsurg. Medsurg is difficult at times but it made me a more confident nurse.

[PLTSGT]

I second that. Everyone, in my opinion, should have at least a year's worth of med surg under his or her belt.

[RemoteRN]

As my graduation date approaches, I've been indecisive about where I should work during my first year as an RN.

The stresses of med-surg have already taken their toll on me (i.e., high nurse:patient ratios, negative attitudes of nursing staff, being on one's feet for countless hours, and the painful consequences at the end of the shift).

Would I be limiting myself if I were to go directly into hemodialysis? If I later choose to do home care, would employers ignore me because of my lack of med-surg experience?

Hemodialysis can be just as high stress as M/S so M/S might just help you get "tuned up"

Let's see. High patient ratio's.. 12-1 sometimes 20-1.

Negative attitudes.. OMG

Being on one's feet for 12-16 hours

Maybe you should shadow an RN for a day to see what goes on in a chronic unit.

Good luck.. Personally, I've done both. I'll take hemo any day.

[Farkinott, RN]

Over here haemo encompasses a global nursing approach. I don't believe you will be "hobbling" yourself by starting in haemo. If you can pick up skill quickly in an area like haemo you can pick up skills anywhere!

[rizenfly]

I started as a new grad in hemo nursing and am very happy. There are many options availabe if you get bored. I personally enjoy the routine of it all. But everything I learned as a nursing student doesn't seem to apply in dialysis nursing!