Squid-UR

Sad but true a lot of dialysis companies have become difficult to work for!! When I was a PCT and looking for a new job I found that most units were not interested in if you were certified of not. Sure they all thought it was nice but did not compensate for it!! Good luck finding a job!!! BTW...DaVita isn't any better than FMC

I worked in dialysis for over 7 years. When I started I was a medical assistant and took a position as a PCT. There were 3 other PCTs in our clinic, none of whom had any medical experience before they started. They were all there about 2 years before I started but I still had more medical experience then they did. There was one RN-CNNwho took me under her wing and taught me everything I ever learned about dialysis. The other PCTs in the clinic did not like that a RN was teaching me anything. I was called a kiss up and many other not so nice things (I found this out from patients, they were talking about me infront of patients!!!). 2 out of the 3 PCTs never liked me. one did warm up to me after about a year, but the other 2 hide my stethescope, I found it in closets, the store room, trash cans and even a red bag once. :angryfire yuk!!! I worked my way through LPN school while I worked full time at the unit. Never really gaining any respect from PCTs or most of the RNs. After several years, I was sitting with the same RN that taught me everything I know about dialysis, she told me why the others never liked me.....I was a threat to them. Even though I was only a PCT and then a LPN, I knew what I was doing and even when I didn't I learned and took what I learned and put it to practice! Don't let them get you down. Show them what your made of and over come their pettiness. Don't show them they bother you. Cover your ass, double and triple check everything you do. IF that doesn't work find another unit. Don't let idiots ruin nephrology nursing for you. It can be a very challenging and rewarding job!!

I am not a NICU nurse but I am here to tell you after working in the medical field for over 10 years there is no such thing as a 8 hour shift anywhere!!! I am scheduled for an 8 hours shift but it is never REALLY an 8 hour shift. There's the overtime (that my department doesn't get paid for), the extra time here and there that you put in just so you can get one step ahead (which you never really do) oh and theres all the time you spend when your not at work thinking about work or things that you need to do at work. Nursing is a truely rewarding career but if you were looking for 8 hours shifts you chose the wrong career!!! Don't worry about the 12 hours shifts!!!! You'll love them!!