Job Role in Dialysis Center...I also need advise

[Cntw82BanRN]

Hello,

What are the role of your Charge Nurse, Registered Nurse (Staff), and PCT in your facility? I am a new grad and I have an interview with one of the Doctors in a Dialysis Center in my town. It will be a 3-day 12 hour shift (0430-1730 MWF). This is ideal for me since I have 2 little kids at home ( and a husband ) and I'd like to have my weekends with them. They offer me $24.00/hour (because I am a new grad with no experience). It is a training facility, and they said I will be in training for 6 months before they can let me off the unit (State law???)..It's a 30-chair facility with 3 licensed nurses ( 1 charge nurse, 2 staff RN's ) and PCT's. I just wnt to know that if I accept the offer that I am not in for a major stress. By the way, I currently have a position being held for me at a hospital (telemetry unit) pending my NCLEX-RN result (which I passed but I have not informed my DON because I'm still not sure which one I would get...Dialysis or Telemetry). In the tele unit, it's a 3-day 12 hour shift too but nights (1900-0700) with rotating weekends. I will be responsible for 8 patients per shift (the pay is a bit higher due to night differential $29.15/hr)...I'd like to ask your opinion...I can't decide!

[Mona Mona, BSN, RN]

Do you think you would like working nights?

I am just taking my pre-requisites, not even in school yet, but from my past work experiences, do what your gut tells you.

If you feel like you are a night owl, and can adjust to the night schedule, and love the money, do it! If your family is more important, take the other job, that seems less stressful.

You will learn more in a big hospital (which I plan on doing for 1-3 years) but probably get more flexibility and understanding of your family issues from a smaller place (where I would like to work once I have kids...)

Sorry, I may not be much help here. If all else fails, take out the good old pen and paper and do pros and cons of each job.

Best of luck to you!

[sunshine9]

I still have two and 1/2 years before I even graduate, so I am not going to go into the nursing point of things. But I do agree with what the previous person said. Definately think about whether you are a night person or not. Don't try one shift and if it goes okay, think that you will be fine. Nights is a whole different ball game and can either be fantastic for you or be a complete nightmare for you. I work nights right now as a CNA and also going to nursing school but I will definately be going off the night shift before fall semester of 2006. I can no longer focus and the constant transition from nights to days can sometimes be overwhelming. Keep in mind what the long-term problems or benefits can be with your different shift schedules.

Good luck with your decision.

P.S. I'm not trying to keep you from taking the night shift but some people don't think that it's that bad after the first couple of nights and then realize that it's not for them later one because your working completely opposite of the body's normal hours to be awake or asleep.