new grad dialysis position

blarn · Mar 13, 2014

Acute Dialysis Offers A Lot Of Independence. I Enjoy It MoreThen Any Other Nursing I have Done. You Have To Like Needles And BeAble To Deal With Blood. Be Ok Making Many DecOnisions ON Your Own. You Would Learn A Lot In The Cardiac Program. I Guess It Depends On If You Wanna Focus on Kidneys OR Hearts. Both ARe Great Opportunities. As An Acute Dialysis Nurse I Rarely Even See My Fellow Dialysis Collegues, So You Have To Be Ok With Working Alone A Lot.

Medwynn · Mar 13, 2014

I do agree with the previous poster. Acutes is very independent.

Most new grads do not last in acutes based upon my observations with our acutes program. That is not to say that you may love it and do acutes for a long time.

You will go through many experiences in cardiac (open hearts, LVAD's, PCI, Etc) that you can put under your belt. I loved my experience with CVICU .

Lillian11 · Mar 13, 2014

Acute Dialysis Offers A Lot Of Independence. I Enjoy It MoreThen Any Other Nursing I have Done. You Have To Like Needles And BeAble To Deal With Blood. Be Ok Making Many DecOnisions ON Your Own. You Would Learn A Lot In The Cardiac Program. I Guess It Depends On If You Wanna Focus on Kidneys OR Hearts. Both ARe Great Opportunities. As An Acute Dialysis Nurse I Rarely Even See My Fellow Dialysis Collegues, So You Have To Be Ok With Working Alone A Lot.

Thank you! I don't mind independence at all.... I kind of like the sound of that to be honest. I worked in acute care dialysis and was trained through Fresenius as a PCT. In the hospital you aren't allowed to do much with the patients as a tech (unlike the techs who work in chronic), but I mastered stringing and cleaning machines, the water process and checks, the weekly work on the machines, setting up machines off the unit, and observed what the nurses were doing with the patients. I really enjoyed it, and I also enjoyed chatting with the patients. I transferred to cardiac because I felt like I wasn't gaining enough direct patient care experience to really benefit me and help me learn while I was in nursing school. I wanted experience with the simple things like baths, vital signs, assisting procedures, and that kind of thing, so I am glad I was able to do that too. The problem I am now facing is a decision, as I was offered a position with the cardiac residency program..... then I failed boards first time (I have a newborn and took it a little too soon).... anywho, now my cardiac position has been held til the fall.... Originally, I didn't apply to anything else, but a few days ago, a received an offer in acute care dialysis. I really love the charge nurse outside of work, as I met her when I was working in dialysis. She has been a nurse for a long time, and I know she would look out for me. She definitely has my best interest at heart because she said she could also introduce me to a manager of med surge / tele at that hospital and that she didn't think it would be hard for me to snag a PRN position on that floor just to make sure I'm getting experience other than dialysis. Also, the dialysis position would start immediately, which is a GOOD thing too. I just don't want to jump into it without careful consideration.... Would it be harmful to my nursing career to begin in such a specialty? I absolutely love the renal system (as I love cardiac as well), and I already know that I love the dialysis population for the most part. I may even stay in Dialysis forever, but I am just making sure in case I decide to switch to school nursing in 5 years or something random, that I'm not making a bad decision here. Thanks for any advice here.

Lillian11 · Mar 13, 2014

I do agree with the previous poster. Acutes is very independent. Most new grads do not last in acutes based upon my observations with our acutes program. That is not to say that you may love it and do acutes for a long time. You will go through many experiences in cardiac (open hearts, LVAD's, PCI, Etc) that you can put under your belt. I loved my experience with CVICU .

Thank you for your input! So, you are recommending cardiac over dialysis as a better starting point? I don't mind the independence, and I have worked as a CNA in both cardiac and dialysis... so I know I definitely like both :-) I am just wondering which one would be better in the long run for my career? Would going into the specialty of dialysis be a bad thing if I decide to switch in 5 years to say, cardiac or hey maybe even school nursing?

Medwynn · Mar 13, 2014

Thank you for your input! So, you are recommending cardiac over dialysis as a better starting point? I don't mind the independence, and I have worked as a CNA in both cardiac and dialysis... so I know I definitely like both :-) I am just wondering which one would be better in the long run for my career? Would going into the specialty of dialysis be a bad thing if I decide to switch in 5 years to say, cardiac or hey maybe even school nursing?

I consider it a great starting point since you'll gain valuble assessment skills and that nursing intuition (kind of hard to describe). We have hired new grad nurses in our in-center department but that was because they were PCT's at the time. From what you've described in your previous post, having immediate employment is probably the way to go. You already have dialysis experience with cannulation and machine troubleshooting (SUPER PLUS - since you won't be calling biomed every issue you have) In regards to your career, dialysis can take you to many places too. You can go into home modalities (PD/HHD), educator, nurse manager, transplant, clinical support, etc. You can stay in the dialysis field your whole career because nursing is so versatile. I do not see why you can't move to another nurse specialty such as cardiac. Nurses with experience can find jobs a little easier than a new grad. You'll be just fine going into either field. Here is what our county website wants in a school nurse. Experience in public health or school nursing is highly recommended but not mandatory. Three years of clinical nursing experience in pediatrics, critical care, or maternal-child health is desirable. Just food for thought.

blarn · Mar 16, 2014

I Don't Think That Its Harmful. I Find That There Is A Good Deal Of Respect For The Skills And Knowledge That Dialysis Nurses Have. I Have Heard ICU Managers Say That They Would Welcome Dialysis Nurses Into ICU Position AnyTime.

Lillian11 · Mar 16, 2014

I Don't Think That Its Harmful. I Find That There Is A Good Deal Of Respect For The Skills And Knowledge That Dialysis Nurses Have. I Have Heard ICU Managers Say That They Would Welcome Dialysis Nurses Into ICU Position AnyTime.

Thanks for your help!!

Lillian11 · Mar 16, 2014

I consider it a great starting point since you'll gain valuble assessment skills and that nursing intuition (kind of hard to describe). We have hired new grad nurses in our in-center department but that was because they were PCT's at the time. From what you've described in your previous post, having immediate employment is probably the way to go. You already have dialysis experience with cannulation and machine troubleshooting (SUPER PLUS - since you won't be calling biomed every issue you have) In regards to your career, dialysis can take you to many places too. You can go into home modalities (PD/HHD), educator, nurse manager, transplant, clinical support, etc. You can stay in the dialysis field your whole career because nursing is so versatile. I do not see why you can't move to another nurse specialty such as cardiac. Nurses with experience can find jobs a little easier than a new grad. You'll be just fine going into either field. Here is what our county website wants in a school nurse. Experience in public health or school nursing is highly recommended but not mandatory. Three years of clinical nursing experience in pediatrics, critical care, or maternal-child health is desirable. Just food for thought.

Thanks for all your help! This is giving me a good deal of info to think about.... really appreciate it:-)))

jlautier · Mar 17, 2014

You have the experience from FMC so youre ready for this job. you have a unique skill set which is what landed you this offer. I just started working at FMC (dec 2013), it's so different, skill set, assessments, do the acutes !

Lillian11 · Mar 18, 2014

You have the experience from FMC so youre ready for this job. you have a unique skill set which is what landed you this offer. I just started working at FMC (dec 2013), it's so different, skill set, assessments, do the acutes !

Thanks!!

I am thinking I will go with Dialysis.

I loved working in it as a tech... it seems like a great fit!