Not Sure What to Do...Fresenius Nurses?

jdethman · May 1, 2013

I currently work for a large regional healthcare company as a float RN in their internal agency. I work on a contingent basis on various intermediate cardiac and med/surg units at a couple of different hospitals. I have only been doing this for eight months, but it is a return to bedside nursing after some years away and has made me realize that I am pretty burned out as a bedside nurse. However, it is a big company with a lot of areas where an RN can work and I have only been there for eight months.
I have an interview at Fresenius tomorrow to work as an inpatient dialysis nurse at some local hospitals in our area. I have never worked as a dialysis nurse, but it intrigues me. I would love to learn a new area of nursing, and I like the idea that it isn't bedside nursing!
Has anyone worked for Fresenius in this capacity? I know I will be working every other Saturday and one Sunday a month, no big deal, but what else do I need to know before I make this decision? I really need to do something, because my husband got a new job that only covers him for benefits and my current job has no benefits. The healthcare company that I work for has many openings with benefits for RNs, but most of them that I qualify for are bedside nursing positions, which I know I would not want to pursue. Also, I have only been there for eight months, so if, for some reason, Fresenius doesn't work out, I don't want to be a job hopper and be looking for something else again sometime this year. I want to have a job where I can stay for at least 3-5 years and hopefully longer than that for some stability. Has your experience been that Fresenius is a company where a nurse can realistically stay for years?
Thanks!

You could stay at FMC for the rest of your career. Inpatient dialysis is one of the best jobs I have ever had. There are many opportunity's to explore should you get tired of that. You can go in center, move in to management, home dialysis, clinical support, or education. Many jobs are highly competitive as you move away from bedside nursing, so it depends on work performance.

westieluv · May 1, 2013

Thanks for your reply. I was actually offered the job today and I am going to take it. I am really excited about learning a new type of nursing, and getting away from bedside med/surg nursing. I also like how Fresenius is a national company so that if we ever decided to move to another city or state I could probably transfer with them.

Do you know anything about the online personal assessment that they have you complete before they decide to interview you? The supervisor who interviewed me told me that I scored a 95% in terms of compatibility with being a dialysis nurse. That made me feel good, but I'm just curious how they decide that based on my score.

Thanks again!

3cdn1usa · May 1, 2013

You can ask for a copy of the assessment. It is pretty interesting reading it.

Chisca, RN · May 2, 2013

If you like being independent and autonomous you will like it. If you don't like long hours, being on call, and adventures in plumbing you might not like it. Dialysis performed in a hospital is called acute dialysis and you can search this forum for various opinions on acutes. Good luck.

NurseRies, BSN, RN · May 3, 2013

If you like being independent and autonomous you will like it. If you don't like long hours being on call, and adventures in plumbing you might not like it. Dialysis performed in a hospital is called acute dialysis and you can search this forum for various opinions on acutes. Good luck.[/quote']
Haha.. Adventures in plumbing. I bought a tool box at lowes and the cashier actually said, "awww.. Are you working on a science fair project for school?".. (I was wearing a hat and I am 27). I said, no, I actually do dialysis treatments at the hospital and I need something to carry all my supplies. She was shocked i think, :)I had the connector pieces made in bulk because I was tired of people stealing them.. I enjoy the "adventures in plumbing", frustrating depending on my mood, but I love problem solving and I love the challenge of something Besides patient care. And when treatment is done, take a break if you want, your schedule is up to you!

lazykittye · May 8, 2013

I am currently an acute dialysis nurse with Fresenius...When I first started dialysis with Fresenius I hated it...such a change from floor nursing...but now I wouldn't do anything else. Absolutely love it!! Give it time..the machine can be quite intimidating (lots of bells and whistles) but I really feel a connection to my patients because without dialysis, they would not have life. Fresenius is a great company with lots of good benefits. I hope you learn to love dialysis as much as I do.

westieluv · May 8, 2013

Lazykittye, thanks for taking the time to reply and thanks for your encouragement! I know going into this that quitting is not an option, because I have worked for a couple of different companies in the past three years and I know that job hopping can be the death of a nurse's resume', plus I am just tired of going through orientation, etc. and want to stick somewhere. I am really looking forward to starting this job at Fresenius and learning the skills to be a great dialysis nurse. :up:

Natkat, BSN, MSN, RN · May 29, 2013

Adventures in plumbing made me laugh so hard. Many is the time I came out of the bathroom after hooking up a dialysis machine, drenched from head to toe. Here's a fun tip. Don't wear white scrubs unless you want to treat everyone in the room to a wt T-shirt contest. And before you ask why anyone would wear white scrubs, it's to hide the bleach splotches.

Erikadawn RN · May 29, 2013

Yes all my scribe have bleach on them. I once had a new nurse ask me if I were. Cleaning before work. Lol. I just explained that I am a dialysis nurse. Fresenius just bought out my company, and its been a month, I like the benefits and the training. Great company so far

jschut, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2013

Im fairly new to dialysis at Fresenius, but I really like it so far! It changes daily, as to what patients you have or where you are going that day.... its a new adventure every time you walk in the door...

I like the strong education they offer before you are left on your own, and the company offers great benefits...

Good luck to you! :)

westieluv · Jun 2, 2013

I should update this thread: I did accept the position doing acutes for Fresenius. Two weeks in I love, love, LOVE it! ITA about the strong education, especially since in my last position (the float pool) I was given exactly four hours of orientation to each new facility and unit that I worked on! Compared to that, I feel like I'm back in college at Fresenius...

Anyway, thanks to all of you for your advice and encouragement. So many things in my career and my life make sense now, because I can look back now and see how they all, in some way, contributed to me getting this job and being prepared for it in various ways. Hospice prepared me for the psychological facets of dealing with renal patients and their families, since so many of them are really grieving in their own ways their loss of freedom and good health and being forced to stick to a regimen that they don't want and many times have a hard time accepting (much like a hospice patient with a terminal illness), and working in intermediate cardiac units has prepared me for the more technical aspects of the job, like what to do when a patient's BP drops precipitously or they develop an arrhythmia while on dialysis.

Thanks again! I am very proud to have joined the "renal nurses' club"...:)