Is this a good plan?

[msngrad]

I graduate LPN school in June next year (so I can't get a job as an LPN until I pass boards). I have taken my RN prereq's & I will be going into a 2 year bridge program.

I really want to work in dialyais, so this is what I was thinking...

I was going to apply for a tech position, and hopefully start the training right after graduation (davita, if possible). Then I could work as a tech until I am licensed, getting my foot in the door.

Many davita locations in my area are hiring tech's. There are a few LPN positions (they seem to always be hiring) that are an hour drive from me. Do you think I'm better off trying to get a job as a tech an hour away & then working as an LPN once I am licensed & IV certified, or am I better off working as a tech in my area and just waiting it out until/if an LPN position becomes available. I'm not sure of the pay difference between the tech and the LPN, so I'm not sure if it would be worth the drive.

I know this is a lot to be thinking about his early, but I'm a person that HAS to plan!

Any thoughts or recommendations on this???

[DeLana_RN, BSN, RN]

Hi there,

I encourage you to look into dialysis, I know many LPNs who find this a more rewarding job than other positions. It also pays well (although not quite as much as long term care in my area).

I think it's an excellent plan for you to get a position and training as a PCT while you're in nursing school. For one thing, the work of a nurse in an outpatient clinic overlaps that of the PCT (setting up/"tearing down" the machine, dialyzing patients - the nurse just has additional duties). Getting training now as a PCT will give you an advantage when you start working as a dialysis nurse, especially if it's with the same company.

I would, for convenience, try to get a local PCT position. If no LPN position opens up, you can always transfer to a more distant clinic once you have graduated. This should be no problem.

As for pay, don't quote me on this, but in my area LPNs make about $6-7/hour more than PCTs. As I mentioned, only nursing homes pay more (about $1-2/hr - IMO, they are desperate to get nurses and always have plenty of openings). Hospitals usually pay less than either dialysis clinics or LTC.

Good luck to you, keep us posted!

DeLana :)