New Dialysis Nurse

[PINKRN1]

Hi, I am a registered nurse with 11 yrs of experience, 4.5 yrs of recent expeirence in Utilization management with a national insurance company, other insurance mostly LTC and some PRN rehab, PRN med surg, with most of this experience being done during the night shifts. I have accepted a new position as a dialysis nurse with a outpatient clinic-wondering if any one can give me any suggestions- 48 yr old nurse who has been "office nursing" for the last 2.5 yrs. Any suggestions-? I am not that up on the labs, but I think my assessment and interpersonal skills are excellent, I have always done well in this area-not that good with IV skills though, anybody have any suggestions to help me get back into the groove of nursing patient care -especially with dialysis? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. thansk pinkrn1

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Hi there and welcome. I am an APN in two chronic hemodialysis units. The RNs are more the supervisors in one of the clinics and in the other, they take patients. Accessing these patients seems much easier than getting IVs because you KNOW you have an access there. Training at the two facilities is about 3-6months for RNs so I think that is reasonable too.

[PINKRN1]

Just wanted to ask are you working in outpatient dialysis clinic and if so is the work physically demanding-standing on your feet 10 or 12 hrs? Just curious how tired are you when you get off.:)

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

My nursing background is ER and nothing can compare to literally 12 1/2 hours running. I do not find dialysis at all physically demanding - the nurses do put patients on and off but this is much more technical then physical.

As an APN I don't do patient care - I just examine patients, review labs, order meds, discuss issues with patients, not the actual care.

Most of the nurses work 12 hours, a few 8 hours.

[PINKRN1]

Thanks for your response, but I'm dumb I have seen the APN title just want to know what is this title? I was also told that I could do promote to teaching. If I were to ever learn myself, (smile) I would maybe like to do some staff teaching or training.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Advanced Practice Nurse.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Sorry for the confusion:

APN - advanced practice nurse, usually a master's prepared RN who does the mid-level provider role.

[LPN2RNBSN]

I am curious if in reviewing labs and ordering medication what your findings are related to epogen considering there is much taaadooo in the media these days as well as the recent government hearings related to epogen.

[cwnurse1]

as for epo, just wait and see. the powers that be will tell you what your unit will do. we currently decrease if hgb >13, but this may change to 12 shortly.

my nurses work 10 hour days. this gives them a day off during the week to take care of other things. they like it this way.

sticking patients will be the least of your problems.

learn your protocols-just because a nurse tells you something is a certain way doesn't make it so.

i am 41, and can keep up with the younger ones.

patients like to give you a hard time at first-testing you to see how you respond. when they figure out you really care and are there for the long run, they lighten up.

don't get frustrated. it takes awhile to learn dialysis. and yes, there are days when everything goes wrong and you are so tired you can hardly move. but then the next day runs smoothly.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

The business with epo is gaining speed. Currently we are decreasing epo at hgb of 12 and holding at 13.

[cat and dog]

I am also considering taking a hemodialysis course in New York city and it is not easy to find one, anybody has an idea? and what is the difference between Dialysis Tech and Dialysis RN. Don't they do the same job?