ICU to Home Dialysis, eek!

[snorabora]

Hi guys,

Home dialysis, what is it like?

I'm a long time lurker and I've been scouring the internet for accounts of what its like as a home health dialysis nurse. It's looking like I may be offered a position in this field and I'm excited and more than a little terrified. I'm not sure if it's the job for me but the pay at my current position as well as the lack of benifits have me really hoping it is. Here's my story.

I'm currently an ICU nurse at a small local hospital. I really like my job. I've only been a nurse 2 years and the pace at the ICU isn't terrible. I love my patients, I love educating them (as much as I can. Most of them are in their 80's so..yeah) and I love the lack of politics at work. I DON'T love that I make 25 cents more than a new grad and there are no retirement benifits or chances for promotion. My strengths are being able to educate patients at any education level, being quick to learn new things and having a whole lot of compassion. I truly love my patients. My weaknesses are a dislike of monotony, some forgetfulness and less than average organizational skills.

I interviewed for a part time position as a in-clinic chronic dialysis nurse. From the tour I think I can correctly surmise I'd like the work PRN but would grow tired of the repetitive nature of clinics full-time. However, the boss at the clinic just spoke with me about a home dialysis position opening up and she thinks I'd be a good fit. I don't have the best idea of what my day or daily responsibilities would be like. The idea of leaving a job that I know I like for the great unknown... gosh. It's scary. Any information you guys can give me on what the job is like, as well as any opinion on my situation, would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thank youuuuuuuuu

-the very nervous nurse

[Chisca, RN]

The pace of PD therapy is the pace of watching paint dry. Which is good for your body and tends to lead to happier patients. All the mean and angry dialysis patients I encounter tend to be on blood based therapies. I think the rapid removal of toxins can lead to some unpleasant personality changes in some people.

[GeauxNursing]

Do u have experience in dialysis? Are you referring to a home henodialysis job? Like doing treatments in patient homes? Ive done that for the past 3 years as lvn. Loved it. Great pay, flexibility, but i had no benefits. Just getting my first RN job in oncology after doing dialysis for 12 years.

[spitfire93]

Hi, I have recently started as a home therapies nurse. It is basically an office position with lots of teaching and follow up with clients. We teach hemo or peritoneal dialysis over a course of about 5 weeks or so depending on the client and their support. There is a follow up at their homes but most of the time they are in the clinic for teaching, labs or follow ups. There seems to be a lot of autonomy and collaboration with dietitians, social workers and physicians. There is a push for training in the home and while it is not for all clients I feel it will give some the ability to have more control and freedom. I think I will like the variety.

[AreN4lyfe, ADN, RN]

Hi, I have recently started as a home therapies nurse. It is basically an office position with lots of teaching and follow up with clients. We teach hemo or peritoneal dialysis over a course of about 5 weeks or so depending on the client and their support. There is a follow up at their homes but most of the time they are in the clinic for teaching, labs or follow ups. There seems to be a lot of autonomy and collaboration with dietitians, social workers and physicians. There is a push for training in the home and while it is not for all clients I feel it will give some the ability to have more control and freedom. I think I will like the variety.

How has the job treated you so far ? Do you feel the training prepared you enough?

[GeauxNursing]

Are you talking about doing in home hemodialysis? Or peritoneal dialysis? Because those are two very different roles. The home hemodialysis nurse goes to the patient's home, sets up the machine and does the treatment for the patient, and then leaves and goes to the next patient.

[spitfire93]

Are you talking about doing in home hemodialysis? Or peritoneal dialysis? Because those are two very different roles. The home hemodialysis nurse goes to the patient's home, sets up the machine and does the treatment for the patient, and then leaves and goes to the next patient.

At Fresenius, they are training patients to complete hemo or peritoneal dialysis to be completed at their home by the patient after training in a Fresenius clinic by a nurse. The hemo patient needs to have another adult in the home that is also trained incase there is an issue. The peritoneal patient is self care. The patients are closely followed by the staff at the clinics and are seen every 2 weeks, there is always a nurse on call for questions.