Interested In Dialysis

Tish88 · Dec 18, 2005

I'm six months + into nursing on a med/surg floor. Although I'm starting to like it more, I've always been interested in dialysis. My question is I want less stress and understand all nursing has that, but still think I'd like dialysis. There's lots to learn and I don't worry about that. BUT, what about codes? I don't want to have to deal with that!! Of course, if it's a rare event, that's one thing, but not too often would I want to deal with that. How often do codes occur? Are patients hooked up to Dynamaps where constant vitals are taken (I would think so). For those of you with med/surg experience, what did you find more challenging, med/surg or dialysis? Thanks!!

Hello, I have been doing dialysis for about 15 years and I would not consider dialysis a non-stress job! It is a busy job.

As for the "codes", yes they do happen and with a free standing clinic situation, it is the nurses that have to handle it, since there are not doctors there all the time. We run the entire code process.

The machines now a days have automatic bp cuffs on them to monitor the patients better.

I personally think that nurses entering the dialysis field should have a good ICU/Med-Surg background to understand what is going on with the patients when they are on dialysis.

I do acute dialysis treatments, but have helped out in many clinics and have been involved in codes in the clinics and ICU settings.

TGIMN · Dec 22, 2005

I have done dialysis off and on since 1994. There are not as many codes as there use to be, but when a code takes place you need to be able to take charge of it. Also, dialysis is more stressful than med-surg.

nosonew, BSN, RN · Dec 28, 2005

Honestly, my biggest stressor in 7 years with dialysis are the critical issues you deal with. No, they do NOT happen often, however, they do happen. Strokes, seizures, anaphylaxis, etc.

I have been extremely lucky in that I have never actually had a full code in my 7 years, and generally I was the only nurse working (small unit).

However, when you have the periods of time with a patient who is ill, and you know "something could happen at any time" it is stressful during their entire run.

I personally loved MedSurg too... the busy aspect and seeing all of the different medical issues.

But, I think dialysis is my one true love. I just don't do it anymore. :scrying:

karenlouise · Dec 31, 2005

I find dialysis is a strange mixture between routine and quite scary. I am in Oz but I am sure it is the same in the US. We don't get given too much responsibility in the acute setting until we have the experience and/or post-grad certificate, but even in the satellite unit where it is mostly routine (by definition) there is still the occasional drama naturally, but if you are well trained you can see problems coming, prevent them or transfer them to the acute setting and let people who love a drama deal with it...prevention is the goal though...apart from things beyond your control that life just deals to people. It's a great job, autonomy, interesting and you get to know your patients really well after seeing them a few times a week for hours at a time and for year after year (hopefully)..which is good and bad...it can seem like a big dysfunctional family at times!

TaraGenX · Jan 1, 2006

Well, about the codes...most of the people I take care of in Dialysis are DNR's!!

jturner9108 · Jan 2, 2006

i have been in dialysis for 6 years as a lpn and just recently took my rn boards, 75 questions..... I love my dialysis job, i think for the most part is is a routine of doing the same things over and over agian as far as the machines and running patients, yes there are problems sometimes on the unit, but codes are very rare in all three of our clinics, which can be very scary because it is unexpected and alot of times the RN's are not used to running codes and it can get a little hairy. Every code we have ever had went smooth but it was always very unexpected. Example our clinic is 12 stations and i have been there almost 1.5 years and we have not had a code, we have had to hook someone up to the monitor on the crash cart , but so far no full code.....