New Grad Dialysis RN Training Programs - Experiences?

[Pearl8178]

Hello all,

I'm reading a lot of posts about how it may be a bad move for a New Grad RN to start their career in Dialysis because it is very specialized. However, there seem to be more "New Grad Dialysis RN Training Program" opportunites available and it sounds like a great program to gain some experience. If anyone has been through, or is going through this New Grad Dialysis program, can you please share your experience?

Has anyone been able to make a transition from a Chronic Dialysis setting to a hospital/acute setting (Acute Dialysis, Med-Surg, Tele, etc) with that new grad experience?

I would love to hear your feedback, advice, & thoughts. Thanks!

[hieu]

I'm a new grad RN with an Associates degree. I don't have a nursing job yet. I'm interested in becoming a dialysis nurse. Can someone tell me how I can get started?

[RNtobeinSoCal]

new grad RN started in dialysis, and now i understand why it is not recommended for new grads!

things to keep in mind:

1- some of these patients are very sick with other comorbidities. there is a level of assessment skill that most new grads don't have, because it takes years to acquire that. they can crash on you at any minute. never had anything like that in student clinicals.

2- you MUST make sure you have a thorough training program and QUALIIFIED, PASSIONATE preceptor! if your preceptor is counting days until retirement or has their own drama going on, you will be left out in the cold. even the best nurses aren't always good preceptors- it is a totally different skill set. bring up the actual preceptor in the interview. i wish i had

3-the hours are LONG- 10-14 hour shifts, and you start very, very early in the morning. e.g., you'll be getting up at 4:30am at the latest.

4- ask about patient ratio and supporting tech staff. ratios vary widely from state to state, clinic to clinic. you could 9 or 10 patients, you could have 12 or 15.

5- there are many, many moving pieces to dialysis. if you thrive on multi-tasking beyond your wildest dreams, then this may be for you. if you prefer slower paced, focused patient care, then this probably isn't for you.

hope this helps!

[jasonbata2]

hi, how much is your rate? im in southern ca... im also interested on that field your in... What certification you must have?. like bls, acls? pals is needed? do you have to poke iv? or just hand iv antibiotics? i dont mind waking up.. 16 hours is manageable then 3 days a week right?

[banarna]

awesome! some people work years before they get the opportunity to work dialysis!

[karmyk]

I didn't start out in dialysis, but several of the dialysis nurses who work with patients in the acute settings at the hospitals I have worked at started out as new grads working in the clinic/outpatient setting. They later transitioned into the acute setting. Many of them are excellent nurses who have had the opportunity to get to know different floors at different hospitals and could most likely easily be hired and trained into those settings, especially since they also have gotten to know many of the floor supervisors and managers. Many of them end up being very satisfied with their jobs as dialysis nurses as well.