Med-surg nurse moving to Outpatient dialysis

[mswim]

Hello, I am nurse that graduated in December of 2008. I did a year and a couple months of med-surg on a busy floor. I am not liking it. Sometimes our ratio is 1 RN:8 patients working with LPN.(I am responsible for all orders and assessment for those patients. LPN for interventions and meds) That means some time i can still get 6 admissions on bus days and have other patients. I also have experienced a lot of back biting with the staff, which puts me over the edge stress wise. The job is hard enough, I don't need the staff to make it worse. The economy has pushed the hospital into staff squeezing. I just already feel burned out! I have actually considered leaving nursing! I feel abused. I on a whim applied to and outpatient dialysis clinic that is 5 mins from my house. It is a 13 bed unit, with tech and there is another RN I would be working with. It is a small clinic open M, W,F, 2 shift with small 3rd shift. I would have 12 shift with an overlap with the other nurse. Any advice? I went and shadowed and am not under the misconception that this job is easy. I am hoping that it will at least me routine, and once I am accustomed it will be better. I hoping it will not be crazy in terms of turnover? I did take the job in dialysis. I have not given my notice at the med-surg job yet, waiting for clearances. I just figured I am already miserable and burned out! If this turns out the same then I am not out anything, but I will have another skill. Any advice or someone that has something positive to say about dialysis? I read alot of post on here that are negative.-Help????

[mamamerlee, LPN]

I truly enjoyed acute dialysis, and worked wirh many chronic patients if they needed something out of the ordinary. If you have 13 filled stations, there should be at least 3 people working at all times. It's not just a matter of speed/efficiency, but patient safety. Check into the staffing more, and how breaks/lunch are handled.

Best Wishes!

[Blue Crab Lover]

Good luck in your new position. I am glad you have decided to leave the unit you were on. I have been a nurse for 12 years and have only seen things get worse. If you try several positions and it isn't for you, get out early while you're young and have time to build another career. You don't want to look back and feel regret. I am at home now 90% of the time and I couldn't be happier.

[mswim]

Hey Thanks for the words of encouragement. I am nervous! The dialysis unit like I said is chronic patient unit. I will be the charge nurse with 3 techs. There will be an overlap everyday where myself and the other nurse will be there which should make it more doable. I just read some many negative things about outpatient dialysis on this site and am worried that I am going from the frying pan into the fire. I am hoping at least that the routine will be good versus the constant turnover at med-surg. It is alot of work but let's face right now in this economy ever job in nursing is overloaded with work. Can anyone tell me anything else about what the difference I am going to find in outpatient dialysis versus med surg.