PCTs want me to do there Work

[BigBoy75]

I'm new to Dialysis, I was trained in the Day shift but was put on the evening shift to fly solo. Today is my last week of training on the evening shift. All I know on the evening shift is that there is a thick barrier between the nurses and the PCTs. In New York, at at Chronic Clinic. PCTs are suppose to put the patient on and take off. Nurses are to do the Cath. patients. I can have 8 to 12 patients. There is 1 PCT for 4 pts. As we all know when change over hits its very hectic. The PCTs will want me to schedule myself to put on or take off there pts. Some of them work slow on purpose so you can jump in. I have my own load and sometime l don't get a break. Yesterday I started at 2pm, I didn't get a break until 10 pm (which I only to 20 mins ), and it was 2 of us,but all the PCTs got there break (30mins)and dinner break (1 hr). Sometime I jump in and help them, but then they try to take advantage of you. I know 1 PCT try to demand me to do there work, want me to strip and prime all here machines, but the charge nurse had my back and told her the New York State rules.

Now I know why all the nurses leave in 1 to 2yrs. All the nurses have less than 1yr 2months on evening shift. All are planning to leave now. The only reason they stayed that long was to get the 1 yr experience. I'm trying to be a nice person but I don't want anyone taking advantage of me. I feel worst for the other nurses, because they told me because I'm a male nurse. Your not getting challenge as much.

Is this a nationwide problem? Everyday there are serious arguments of PCTs trying to get out of work.

Monday I'm alone, I'm thinking I might have to put everyone in there place when they work with me, or do I have the wrong attidue

[Lacie, BSN, RN]

Welcome to the world of dialysis!! This is not just your unit. I was the clinical manager and still had to cover the floor and take patients as the only RN with 2 pcts and 12-16 chairs. Roles are very gray. Also for me I didnt mind jumping in and putting pts on or taking them off if the pcts were tied up with someone. I also have been known to pick up a mop to clean up the leaky machines or wash the bicarb bottles also. Sometimes you have to learn to say NO in certain situations. I'm afraid you will find this anywhere you go for the most part. Also it's not a good thing to alienate your pcts as when the going gets rough they are who you will depend on. I never ask them to do anything I wouldnt do myself. You are still new and it will take time to get your groove on so to speak and be able to prioritize. It will get faster for you and become second nature. I swear I could string a machine in my sleep lol. Dont get me wrong as I left dialysis for very similar reasons.

[BigBoy75]

Welcome to the world of dialysis!! This is not just your unit. I was the clinical manager and still had to cover the floor and take patients as the only RN with 2 pcts and 12-16 chairs. Roles are very gray. Also for me I didnt mind jumping in and putting pts on or taking them off if the pcts were tied up with someone. I also have been known to pick up a mop to clean up the leaky machines or wash the bicarb bottles also. Sometimes you have to learn to say NO in certain situations. I'm afraid you will find this anywhere you go for the most part. Also it's not a good thing to alienate your pcts as when the going gets rough they are who you will depend on. I never ask them to do anything I wouldnt do myself. You are still new and it will take time to get your groove on so to speak and be able to prioritize. It will get faster for you and become second nature. I swear I could string a machine in my sleep lol. Dont get me wrong as I left dialysis for very similar reasons.

Thanks for the reply, I'm leaving for work in 1 hours and that is what I was thinking about. Your right, I will have to depend on them when the going get rough. When that machine gets air in the line, I still don't know what do. I know some of them hate me because I'm a nurse, but when I 1st started I was trying to get them into my RN school. I use to work at my school admission office, an this is the only school in NY that accept student on "roll in" basis. I already help 4 of my friends in. The only part I hate is in 3 months all there nurses will have there 1 yr experience and there leaving. I wish I started earlier. But they do alienate the nurses when they do need help, if there is problems with the MACHINE and its a Cath patient, THEY WILL NOT HELP, they say thats your pt an won't touch that machine and let the dialyzer clot. But they want us to help them. This was going on long before I started. Well you said welcome to Dialysis, and I'm in it to stay.