Need Info On Davita..........

Lacie, BSN, RN · Aug 24, 2007

I beleive it's the company as even my FA comes in and works the floor in order for me to get more than 1 day off in a row. We are now down to one RN (me) and the FA (also an RN), other than that our staffing is one full time LPN, 1 per diem LPN and the rest PCT's. They should put more money into staffing and upgrading then the wasted dollars to the so called "Academy" for 2 days lol

Aquamarine · Aug 24, 2007

I beleive it's the company as even my FA comes in and works the floor in order for me to get more than 1 day off in a row. We are now down to one RN (me) and the FA (also an RN), other than that our staffing is one full time LPN, 1 per diem LPN and the rest PCT's. They should put more money into staffing and upgrading then the wasted dollars to the so called "Academy" for 2 days lol

we have a lot of RNs at our facility, but occassionally the boss has to work also. Tonight one Rn on one side, one on the other...no techs, no LPNs....nadda. if one thing went wrong...what would happen. That's the "davita way". The other Rn has the reuse tech call the BPs out because he couldnt get the alarms if he was taking off someone else...or whatever. How ridiculous...but people take 1.5 hr smoke breaks....I blame the administration being far from the actual facility...but who knows. I could think of a lot of ways to save money and have more employees on working during the shift...and I would get rid of all the lazy ones. thier little trips to specific units when they frighten the staff are meaningless...do they really think that is a typical day?? come on.

Hang in there...something good comes from everything...even if it seems like a mess right now...take care. :cheers::cheers:

RNratched · Aug 30, 2007

Hello, I am currently a dialysis nurse in an acute hospital setting. I am relatively new to dialysis nursing and I have to say that I absolutely love it. If I had been asked in nursing school what area I would be most likely to stay away from, it would have been this very area. To my surprise...I am a dialysis nurse! :yeah:

Now, my question is regarding Davita pay. Some of the comments posted here say that the pay is low...what is considered low? What would average pay be considered, or good pay?

Aquamarine · Aug 31, 2007

Hello, I am currently a dialysis nurse in an acute hospital setting. I am relatively new to dialysis nursing and I have to say that I absolutely love it. If I had been asked in nursing school what area I would be most likely to stay away from, it would have been this very area. To my surprise...I am a dialysis nurse!
Now, my question is regarding Davita pay. Some of the comments posted here say that the pay is low...what is considered low? What would average pay be considered, or good pay?

Davita starting pay is about 23.00...HOWEVER...the pay increases are 2-3%...in other words, the increases do not cover the cost of gasoline. They say the reason is because they give you bonus checks...the bonus checks in no way represent a raise. So to sum it up, if you are in a hospital..stay there.

I am sure there are some units with good facility administrators...but there seems to be a gap between the actual company and the facilities. They aren't always well staffed. There is so much. Is there a privately owned facility in your area, that might be a better way to go. But if you are in a hospital...you are ahead of the game. YOu learn acutes as well as chronics. YOu will be so much more experienced, so much better staffed, better raises, places to move up ahead.

Someday you might be able to do travelling dialysis...pays well.

good luck, no matter what your choice...just tried to give you a view from my standpoint.

One good thing I can say, Davita has good training if you get to go to their school. Very impressive.

:typing

Migrant_Renal_RN · Sep 3, 2007

I have to say thank you for all of your responses. I worked for DaVita for nearly 2 years, the first 5 months were actually with Gambro. I found it very interesting that the fact that there was a buyout in place was never mentioned during the interview process. I have been a dialysis nurse for 17 years, and I love it!! I am, however, suffering from "burnout" for the first time in my 21 year nursing career due to the fact that I had all of the "joy" sucked out of me!! I was Clinical Nurse Manager at 3 different local facilities during that short time, and never felt wholly supported my the local management staff....I did on the other hand LOVE DaVita!! I knew that if you cut me, I would bleed blue and gold! Any facility experience is going to be whatever you make it. Too many of us, however, stay way beyond what is sensible due to our commitment to our patients, staff and profession. I recently read an article on burnout....more nurses need to speak with their feet!! Just a "by the way", my husband is a dialysis patient, and he comes home with stories of what has happened at his clinic that day, and there are alot of days that I am beside myself!! He, however, does NOT want me to say or do anything; because he HAS to be there!! I was telling him about the burnout article the other day, because alot of the pts he dialyzes with seem to be suffering from burnout, due to staffing issues, and lack of professionalism....I mentioned to him also that patients, who often feel as though they have no choice, and don't want to make waves for fear of retribution.....need to speak with their FEET as well:)

thanks for listening

Aquamarine · Sep 4, 2007

I have to say thank you for all of your responses. I worked for DaVita for nearly 2 years, the first 5 months were actually with Gambro. I found it very interesting that the fact that there was a buyout in place was never mentioned during the interview process. I have been a dialysis nurse for 17 years, and I love it!! I am, however, suffering from "burnout" for the first time in my 21 year nursing career due to the fact that I had all of the "joy" sucked out of me!! I was Clinical Nurse Manager at 3 different local facilities during that short time, and never felt wholly supported my the local management staff....I did on the other hand LOVE DaVita!! I knew that if you cut me, I would bleed blue and gold! Any facility experience is going to be whatever you make it. Too many of us, however, stay way beyond what is sensible due to our commitment to our patients, staff and profession. I recently read an article on burnout....more nurses need to speak with their feet!! Just a "by the way", my husband is a dialysis patient, and he comes home with stories of what has happened at his clinic that day, and there are alot of days that I am beside myself!! He, however, does NOT want me to say or do anything; because he HAS to be there!! I was telling him about the burnout article the other day, because alot of the pts he dialyzes with seem to be suffering from burnout, due to staffing issues, and lack of professionalism....I mentioned to him also that patients, who often feel as though they have no choice, and don't want to make waves for fear of retribution.....need to speak with their FEET as well:)
thanks for listening

I think it is terrible that any dialysis patient should have to fear nurses...or what they might do if he complains. Maybe if he just discusses it with the offenders. I have seen exactly what you are talking about. If the Facility Administrator can't manage you have chaos....and that is what we have. Although, once again I am impressed with the core of Davita...and what they have put into training. I think they just have to put a decoy in the place and they will know it all...the truth. It took me almost 5 months befor I could see what was going on.

Sad because I wanted to retire from the place...but it isn't going to happen.

Your husband deserves better. That is so wrong. I guess you have to let him handle it his way. I think sometimes a nice but candid conversation.

I had a patient tell me she hears all the nurses talking saying...I would never trust that nurse woking on me, etc. I told her we all have to go through so many checks and balances to get to where ww are in the profession and that it is unfortunate that she doesn't trust anyone there because of staff bad talking. It is the techs without any degree that do most of that talk....They don't have the background a nurse has even if they are good at their jobs. That is the difference, no professionalism.

Good luck

Migrant_Renal_RN · Sep 4, 2007

I know. I have spoken to the FA, without his permission, and she always says that she will speak w/the primary offenders...which she must actually NEVER do, as the behavior does NOT change!! I wish that there were some way for me to speak to those in the power to enforce a change without coming off as a sour grape. I know there has to be a way, I just haven't figured it out yet!!

Aquamarine · Sep 4, 2007

I know. I have spoken to the FA, without his permission, and she always says that she will speak w/the primary offenders...which she must actually NEVER do, as the behavior does NOT change!! I wish that there were some way for me to speak to those in the power to enforce a change without coming off as a sour grape. I know there has to be a way, I just haven't figured it out yet!!

Maybe that is part of their deal...to let everything go not to lose nurses, and not to have any law suits. My boss says she was told not to fire any minority. Is that the craziest thing? that shouldn't be a factor for job security. I have seen it all, heard it all, and am just shocked at what goes on. Some patients told me they are afraid to complain also...I can't stand it. It hurts me more than them but also, what can I do? I am the true minority because I am caring, honest, believe that you go to work to work, not to take breaks all day and try to put off what you are supposed to do on others, my heart breaks for the patients. I am not the best nurse technically speaking, I don't have all the years behind me, but I am smart, know a lot about renal, but seem to care about the person, the patient...no matter what their background...no matter what their mood, or color, or temperment. I had a sick daughter who passed. That is my mission to treat patients with the best I have and to get them the help they need when I can't. I do that. I never sit down unless I am doing something work related. I take my 30 min break to eat, and at the end of the night only if there is time, I take a 15 min. sit down break...that is usually non-existant. I sometimes go back earlier from break if I have a patient to take off. I am wondering where my place is in the nursing world....because it is hard to listen to the patients tell me what goes on, how they fear the workers...What a world this has become, quality must be a thing of dreams...Hang in there, do what you can.

Get on line and go to her boss if you don't get action, call the administrative offices...I am sure the number is on line. That is what you have to do to make the dialysis unit better for other patients, then you will know you did what is right, and didn't succome to intimidation. The boss could use one last talking to with a little firmness in your eyes...then go to the higher ups...even the state if you have to. :madface: Good luck..

Migrant_Renal_RN · Sep 5, 2007

The state is my next venue, as a former employee of the same company, I am not being taken seriously. I wish that I could wave a wand over it and make it better, but, I spent 2 years with these guys and couldn't effect change....so it is going to require something more than me. It truely hurts my heart, as renal is my love, renal is where I will end my career, and I probably have to work another 30 years at the rate the economy is going!!!

Thank you so much for your input. I look forward to speaking with you further.

Aquamarine · Sep 5, 2007

The state is my next venue, as a former employee of the same company, I am not being taken seriously. I wish that I could wave a wand over it and make it better, but, I spent 2 years with these guys and couldn't effect change....so it is going to require something more than me. It truely hurts my heart, as renal is my love, renal is where I will end my career, and I probably have to work another 30 years at the rate the economy is going!!!
Thank you so much for your input. I look forward to speaking with you further.

I know what you mean, the first day I was working there a very large LPN with orange hair came over to me and said I wasn't going to last there too long because I was too nice! I told her I would and that I was going to retire from there. I feel like odd man out because I work hard the whole time I am there. I am not kidding. Also one night a pt. had sky high blood pressure. I called his pharmacy and he had been out of BP meds and no refills, I then called his MD and got him to call in an RX. One of the LPNs said that.... I didn't understand, they don't do that stuff there! I told her I went to nursing school to be my kind of nurse and she could do what ever she wanted. She said "you'll see". On another day she brought a chaise lounge to work so she could lay down in the sun on her smoke breaks. No lie...the boss was with her smoking. Need I say more? I am the only one that doesn't sit down most of the night. So I do stick out?...like a very sore thumb!. one night the charge nurse told her to do the machine book and she went into a rage and said don't f with me, who the f do you think you are, do you know who I am, how long have you been here, i have been here 7 yrs, what does that tell you?...in a very crazy rage. I punched out and went home at that point, I thought there might be violence. I had done almost all the closing duties that night...she did none. Another night a pt was so lethargic in the waiting room we had to call 911. The charge nurse told the orange haired girl to go take vitals...so he could call the MD, she said no...she had computer work to do, and she didn't either. I was putting pts on the other side, never knew. He went to the boss and wanted to write her up, the boss said she took care of it, how??

I am applying elsewhere...not that these things don't happen, but I want to work for a place where pride is taken in giving good patient care. Anything goes here...at the place I am at.

It seems anti-patient. They talk about the patients like they are crazy if the patient says one thing.

All I know is every dog has it's day...and when something goes down, a pt. dies...that boss will be on the other side of the door...

Hang in there...don't give up.

kimmydo · Apr 4, 2008

Here I am, eight months later, and I hate Davita! I am still there, and there are a few good people in the company, I love the patients, but the overall attitude i have encountered and tolerated has been very hard and i have not been happy since I went there. The first facility I was harrassed at, and the second,well, noone has the time to listen to all the gripes, and I haven't seen a bonus or evaluation yet. I am very sad I went, it was the biggest mistake of my life. :scrying: My average day is 13.5-15hours:banghead:

and I commonly go 6-8 hours with no break!!!

rastaRN · Apr 4, 2008

I work with Davita in Texas, pay is average, hard work and extensive training. I am ready to do acutes the chronic side of dialysis is hard work. Davita is a good company but alot depends on your teammates (co-workers) the job definately takes team effort..Good luck