New job in Dialysis!

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Specializes in Wound Care, Public Health, Dialysis, Primary Care.

Hi everybody! I posted in the past that I was interested in giving dialysis nursing a try. Well I just accepted a position with DCI. I tried long term care but it’s not working out like I though so I decided to finally take the leap and try dialysis. I’m nervous yet excited! 

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Specializes in Nephrology/Dialysis.

Welcome to the family!  But seriously - this company is really great to work for.  I have worked in independent out patient hemo; for profit centers and hospital based units and have really been able to see a difference.  I love that DCI puts profits back into the company in the form of transplant resources and research for kidney disease.  During Covid we have had weekly updates and Webex meetings with the heads of the company.  When I have issues with patients they are there to help address them.  I truly hope you are happy in dialysis.  I have found that I use all my assessment skills and I have appreciated the technical aspects of it as well.  Good Luck!!

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Specializes in Wound Care, Public Health, Dialysis, Primary Care.
1 hour ago, Zeek said:

Welcome to the family!  But seriously - this company is really great to work for.  I have worked in independent out patient hemo; for profit centers and hospital based units and have really been able to see a difference.  I love that DCI puts profits back into the company in the form of transplant resources and research for kidney disease.  During Covid we have had weekly updates and Webex meetings with the heads of the company.  When I have issues with patients they are there to help address them.  I truly hope you are happy in dialysis.  I have found that I use all my assessment skills and I have appreciated the technical aspects of it as well.  Good Luck!!

Thank you so much! I hope I enjoy dialysis nursing and I can do this for a while! 

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I just started training for dialysis too! I'd love to bounce ideas and share experiences with you. Congrats and good luck! So far I've been doing online learning modules. I meet my preceptor next week. 

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Specializes in Wound Care, Public Health, Dialysis, Primary Care.
47 minutes ago, vegasmomma said:

I just started training for dialysis too! I'd love to bounce ideas and share experiences with you. Congrats and good luck! So far I've been doing online learning modules. I meet my preceptor next week. 

Congrats! I remember seeing that you were interested in dialysis too! I’m glad you decided to take the leap! I don’t start until May 3 but I’ve already accepted the position and the ppw has been started. We can definitely share experiences! Please keep in touch! 

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Specializes in Dialysis/Vascular Access Creation.

Also a new dialysis nurse in training here ??. How is everyone’s experience so far?

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Congratulations to you all. If you have questions be sure to post them here. I have 10 years' dialysis experience. Good luck.

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I'm 9 weeks into my training in acutes. I love it! Gonna stay here til retirement.  No more running nonstop on the floor trying to meet unreasonable expectations of management, patients and their families.  

Thanks! @SmilingBluEyes I'm sure I will have more questions once I'm released on my own. So far hypotension is the most common complication I've experienced. But I've learned to request midodrine and albumin PRN just in case and to start each treatment low and slow.

 

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Specializes in Wound Care, Public Health, Dialysis, Primary Care.
11 hours ago, Kemarie97 said:

Also a new dialysis nurse in training here ??. How is everyone’s experience so far?

Welcome to dialysis! So far my experience is going good overall. I just finished my 4th week of training. I’m in a outpatient chronic hemodialysis center that has 43 chairs and runs 3 shifts Monday, Wednesday, Friday. My training consists of “class” on Mondays and being in the clinic on Wednesday and Friday for the first 6 weeks then the schedule will change for the last 6 weeks. So far I can set up the machines and get them through test mode, start to work up a patient (still need help calculating the numbers), pre and post nursing assessments (our LPNs can’t assess), and I’m learning to pull needles post treatment). Getting checked off on meds and cannulation (sticking the needles) will come a bit later in the training per the education coordinator. It’s overwhelming since it’s fast paced at times and I learn at a slower pace but I think I’ll get it eventually...well I hope so! 

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Specializes in Wound Care, Public Health, Dialysis, Primary Care.
10 hours ago, SmilingBluEyes said:

Congratulations to you all. If you have questions be sure to post them here. I have 10 years' dialysis experience. Good luck.

I will be sure to ask questions! And thanks for offering your support! 

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Specializes in Dialysis/Vascular Access Creation.
1 hour ago, Yellownurse15 said:

Welcome to dialysis! So far my experience is going good overall. I just finished my 4th week of training. I’m in a outpatient chronic hemodialysis center that has 43 chairs and runs 3 shifts Monday, Wednesday, Friday. My training consists of “class” on Mondays and being in the clinic on Wednesday and Friday for the first 6 weeks then the schedule will change for the last 6 weeks. So far I can set up the machines and get them through test mode, start to work up a patient (still need help calculating the numbers), pre and post nursing assessments (our LPNs can’t assess), and I’m learning to pull needles post treatment). Getting checked off on meds and cannulation (sticking the needles) will come a bit later in the training per the education coordinator. It’s overwhelming since it’s fast paced at times and I learn at a slower pace but I think I’ll get it eventually...well I hope so! 

I’m also just finished my 4th week in training. I’m a chronic nurse as well with Davita. Most of our learning is self-paced through workbooks and online videos. We will have two separate weeks of class learning that will be completed via webex. We do our workbooks and online stuff during downtime on the floor. So far, I’ve learned priming, testing, recirculating, put ons, returns, take offs, needle removal, chair-side documentation(still working on that), cvc care and put on, and I just started learning about the medications. Next week, I’m supposed to be doing cannulations, more meds, and more documentation. Everything is moving sooo fast ?

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Specializes in Wound Care, Public Health, Dialysis, Primary Care.
5 hours ago, Kemarie97 said:

I’m also just finished my 4th week in training. I’m a chronic nurse as well with Davita. Most of our learning is self-paced through workbooks and online videos. We will have two separate weeks of class learning that will be completed via webex. We do our workbooks and online stuff during downtime on the floor. So far, I’ve learned priming, testing, recirculating, put ons, returns, take offs, needle removal, chair-side documentation(still working on that), cvc care and put on, and I just started learning about the medications. Next week, I’m supposed to be doing cannulations, more meds, and more documentation. Everything is moving sooo fast ?

Everything definitely moves fast! Sometimes I feel like it moves a bit too fast, but I’m going to do the best I can to keep up! Hopefully I continue to like it because some of the patients are asking me not to leave! 

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