New Nurse and I dont think dialysis is for me HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

netglow, ASN, RN · Oct 31, 2011

I am surprised you got a dialysis job. Around my area those require a minimum of 2 years medsurg but prefer ICU experience at minimum. Could be dangerous for you, especially since you say you don't do much. Could be you just don't know what you should know. But, it's a first job, and I am sure the only job you could get. Chronics is where you should be then, not acute. People become very unstable with dialysis on top of already being very unstable in the hosptital.

Unless you absolutely hate this job, and have no experienced support, I'd keep it. A BSN does not mean you even will have a crack at a hospital job, ever. If you have no debt, and can swing it take an online BSN. But only do it if you have the money to do it. Really, there are no "skills" I don't understand what people are talking about when they lament losing skills... if you use your nursing education in practice that's all you need. That will change and you will have to study up where ever you end up.

vanburbian · Oct 31, 2011

Ummmm..."renal" is, in fact, quite common on med surg, and even many tele units.

So, dialysis itself may not be a "challenge" for you, but in fact, it is a job where you should be using critical thinking skills.

And, I think you may be confused about using the term "qualified" in reference to having a BSN and working at an acute care hospital.

A BSN may be preferred, but is not a requirement, legally. It is a preference of that hospital.

It doesn't mean you aren't qualified.

What skills do you think you're losing? Chronic renal patients/dialysis, require a multitude of "skillful" interventions. Hopefully, you're looking at things like labs, and doing a mini assessment when your patients come in and not just hooking them up to the dialyzer.

beast master RN · Oct 31, 2011

lol sounds like a dream job for about 80 percent of america 28/hr and your good at what your do, first off the grass is always greener on the other side. med surge / hospital nursing , can be over rated , most like you will go work in a hospital for 6 months have to take a big pay cut and think to ur self wow i had it really good, what did i do? it seems like your not hating our current job as much as your envying med surge nurses , well just a fyi med surge nurses can be jealous of a dialysis nurse work load and pay, think about it

Editorial Team / Admin · Oct 31, 2011

Duplicate posts deleted.

Instead of chastising members for duplicate posts/threads, please report so we can merge. It's rather rude to point it out so disrespectfully. Note: posts that were rude/disrespectful were removed.

Biffbradford · Oct 31, 2011

Keep your eyes open for an opening in acute with your company. That would be a step in the right direction until you get your BSN.

PLTSGT · Oct 31, 2011

...it seems like your not hating our current job as much as your envying med surge nurses , well just a fyi med surge nurses can be jealous of a dialysis nurse work load and pay, think about it

True that! Hospital work is hard compared to dialysis.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Oct 31, 2011

hi all
i need some advice i'am a recent graduate from this pass may i have my associates and i'am currently enrolled in a acclerated bsn program i had a problem not finding a job because i didnot have my bsn i always had a interest in renal and i have been employed at my job for two months and i donot think that renal (espically in a chronic unit) is for me. i really want to work in the hospital on like a medsurg or a tele unit, but becuase i dont have my bsn i'am not qualified. i also fear that i'am forgetting alot of my skills from nursing school becuase i'am a dialysis nurse i really dont do that much but push the same meds over and over again there is really not alot of critical thinking, assesment skills that i have to use. my problem is i make great money as a new grad 28.00/hr and i was thinking that once i get my bsn in a little over a year i would try to get a job at a hospital but i'am not sure if i can use dialysis as experience as a nurse because the hospitals here in philadelphia maybe start their new grads off anywhere between 25-28/hr and i cannot afford to take a pay cut. please help also do you guys know of any courses that i can take as a refresher if i'am trying to get into telementry. i was so good at that in nursing school but like the old saying goes if you dont use it you loose it

you graduated less than six months ago and you already have a job. after two months, you think you have learned everything there is to know about chronic dialysis and are afraid you're "loosing" your "skills"? what skills? nursing school doesn't really teach you any skills -- it just prepares you to pass the nclex so that you can get a job and start learning some skills.

if you cannot see where you need to use critical thinking or assessment skills in your current job, you're not looking hard enough. i'd be reluctant to hire you into a hospital position if that's what you told me. chronic dialysis patients have a myriad of co-morbidites and medications with interactions. and if you're not assessing your patients before and after their dialysis runs, you're not doing the job you have.

i think you just have a bad case of "first year blues." everyone goes through it, and the only way to get through to the other side is to just go through it. and i'd also advise you to look a bit harder at your current job. there's always something to learn, and if you ignore that aspect of your job you're doing yourself -- and your patients -- a disservice.

linsmirn · Oct 31, 2011

I also got a dialysis job 2 months after I graduated, but the training was horrible so I left and got my hospital job. But I did do a lot at the dialysis clinic, I started treatment, IV's, assessments, administer IV meds, draw labs, kept an eye on the patients and took care of them when they complained of cramping, dizziness, low BP etc: and called and received calls from physicians.I had a lot on my plate pluse I had to supervise 5 techs. I was always busy. If you do all I just mention and you leave on a good note, trust me it will benefit and help you get a hospital position.

merlee · Oct 31, 2011

Dear Cindy, Please reread your post, and rethink your situation. You may be very unhappy for the wrong reasons. You have a job that requires critical thinking skills and it seems like you are not doing the assessments you should be trained to do. Every patient on chronic dialysis needs at least a thorough assessment weekly, someone checking those labs, emotional and educational support......

If you are doing these things, well, those are 'nursing skills'.

Do not allow yourself to become complacent. Stay on top of your patients, read your journals.

But dialysis is not for everyone. I loved acutes, the more complex, the better. Never cared for chronics, but did that to.

If you decide on going back to a hospital setting, you will be okay with your 'skills'.

Take care, and best wishes.

PLTSGT · Oct 31, 2011

You are really lucky for getting a job quicker than most recent grads especially with dialysis. A lot of dialysis companies wouldn't even hire nurses who have years of experience as nurses if they don't have dialysis experience.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2011

i am sorry to be saying this and apologize in advance because i know the perennially-aggrieved will slam me for it, but here goes nothin'.

the original post was so stuffed with usage and spelling errors that, had a written application for employment crossed my desk looking like it, i would have tossed it in the circular file without a second glance. it fairly screams, "i don't care what they think about me so i don't care how i present myself." this is not what you will need to do if you wish to get a better job.

op, if you do want a better job, and especially if you want to succeed in a bsn program, please, please, please get some help with your written work product. you say you don't do much in your job now, but surely you must do some patient assessment, teaching, and emotional support in a dialysis unit. if your charting on these critical topics looks like your post, it wouldn't surprise me if they didn't want to keep you on.

this is not a personal attack, it's a plea for the profession. just sayin', and trying as hard as i can to be helpful. really, honest and true. we need nurses; please do what you can to be one, and that includes clear and accurate written communication.

::sigh:: ok, now just hit me.