stellsbells

I am considering switching back to dialysis. I would like to do chronic outpatient as this is my experience. I have 2 years dialysis experience and 3 years ICU experience. I have never worked for Davita and wonder if any of you out there can tell me about your experiences with them. What are the shift hours, 8 hour vs 10 hour? Does it feel really corporate? Are pay increases based on a ladder or performance? I know what dialysis nursing involves so I am more interested in what this particular company is like. Thanks.

The unit I work on has 26 beds/chairs. As charge, my responsibility is #1 - overseeing all patient care, as it is my license on the line. In my unit there is at least one other RN working - maybe giving meds, maybe taking patients (3 is the max for anyone, nurse or tech). This is great because I always have a second RN opinion. Never, is the charge nurse assigned to patients, unless there is an extreme situation which fortunately does not happen often. Besides that, I must implement all standing orders, take all doctor's orders and transcribe them, run the code if it happens, deal with countless transportation issues, and then deal with all the other BS that happens in between. As a charge nurse, you know what I mean. :) It is very hectic I would worry about my license if I had to take patients and be responsible for every other patient and staff member.

I work in dialysis and here's what I can tell you. I work for a nonprofit. I understand the for profit companies pay more, but only slightly. I started 6 months ago, right out of school. I make 24$ an hour - base. I also make $2.50 on top of that for evening differential. I cant do 5am. I also make an additional $2 for charge shifts. Holidays are time and a half, coming in to cover a shift on your day off is double pay. Overtime is ALWAYS available. Enough about pay. You either love dialysis or hate it. If you have the interest in it, volunteer. I volunteered before nursing school, not because I loved it, but because I needed volunteer hours. I fell in love. Don't let anyone tell you money is not important. That person can pay my student loan bills and then we can have a talk.