islandroots

I work for Davita, and like in all things there are the good and the bad. It is impossible to have a pod and charge. You should not be there 3 hours after our last patient. Yes, it is difficult at first, but eventually you will get your speed. Talk to your FA. The only thing a charge nurse should have to do is to "help" with the CVC's. I worked in Florida where the tech actually could do the CVC's. Now they are assigned to my 2nd license, but I help. The most important thing is to get your team to sign on with you. Once they realize that you are a team, the work situation should get better

It is sad that you have gone through this, but there is one thing that should be clear. Being Adventist and/or a sabbath keeper does not automatically exempt you from having to work on the sabbath. I am also a sabbath keeper. I have been Adventist my whole life. I have worked for Adventist managers who would not allow me to have every sabbath off. I have had an Adventist manager who did. It all depends on the person. You have a few options. You can work on the sabbath and donate your salary, therefore it is not work, but volunteering. You could show your managaer how great an employee you are and maybe get them to work something out with you at a later time. You also should keep in mind that Jesus helped to take the animal out of the pit on the sabbath "lest he die". Taking care of the sick on the sabbath is not a sin. I am a manager and when I hire I have to tell the person that the job requires 6 days a week. We are closed on Sunday.. I have had Adventist apply, but did not hire them for the same reason you seem not to be getting hired. I have to fill the position with someone who can do the job. One requirement is every other Saturday. Try to find a M-F clinic, or even Diallysis where you could work Monday, Wednesy and Friday only, and maybe leave earlier on Friday. Pray. It will work out.

It all depends on the number of employees that are in your facility. It also depends if all of the current employees agree to remian with the company. The may or may not attempt to adjust your salaries. Then if enough do not agree to stay the deal may or may not go through. For certain key positions they may bring in thier own team. eg Administrator or Clinical Manager. The try to keep as many of the original folks or even offer alternative positins or clinics. I geeneral it is a good company. Lots of opportunity for growth and education. Give it a try. You may be surprised.

The experience that you will get there will be unmatched. They will ensure that you are properly trained prior to leaving you alone in the facility. There is also a lot of learning opportunities there. Do well on your interview. You will not regret it. P.S. they pay the training nurses at the full salary.

Where in Ft L. What company if it is not too personal.

Hey Kate, If any one of us was perfect we would walk on water. Before you gp any further speak to a counselor at school and find out if anything in your past would prevent you from sitting the NCLEX and getting licensed. If not, then I say go for it. You will find you rniche in the nursing world. I graduated from nursing school at the age of 45.I was not the oldest student in my class either. It is never too late.

It is usually at or near to the nurse salary. No nurse will work for 18 months at a technician salary.

I did not say that 18 month as a tech was a good thing. If that what was implied I apologize. What I meant was that to walk into a clinic totally green, and think that one would be able to handle the unit did not make sense. Even when you are going to work in med-surg, you are preceptored. My company has an in depth and very comprehensive training program for new RN grads. I know of some companys that bring in RNs with med serg experience and just put them on the floor. This makles it hard on the patients as well as the staff that has to work with them. A really good training in dialysis is always a good thing.

It is not about playing a role. As a dialysis RN, there is a great deal of autonomy. You have to be able to think on your feet and know what you are doing.I am not saying that they should be paid what a tech is paid but to think that a new nurse out of school should make the same amount as an RN with 18 solid months of experience is not really feasible. The RN has to know the water system, medication,labs,fluid, electrolytes, and lab values. They really do not teach that in nursing school. They showed us the unit and we kept on going. I have seen RN's come in and not know anything about dialysis. They are immediately paired with a tech, to get the hands on training.

The reasoning behind you working as a tech, is because as a dialysis nurse you must be able to do what the techs do. There may be the ability to read it in a book, but until you are doing it hands on, you will be clueless. Plus the patients want to know that if the tech cannot do something the nurse can. Dialysis, you either love it or hate it. I have been here 23 years. From a tech to lpn to Rn to manager. Put in the time. It will be worth it.

I work in a clinic, so my patients do not die here. But if I was going to be sending a patient out in a body bag, I would put a clean gown on. WHy? Because it would give ME a feeling of comfort. I would feel like I did my best for that patient even until the end. That is what nurses do. We are not robots. We have feelings.:heartbeat

I don't know, but we were not allowed to buy useed either. We had to bring the reciept which was signed off by the teacher.

Yes, my school made us buy that lab kit. It cost $125.00. All ot had in it was a few bandages, saline, i.v. start kits and stuff like that. We used 1 saline and 1 set of tubing out of the whole bag. We never used the other stuff. We were given everything we needed in the lab at school. When we questioned why we had to buy the kit, we were told that the school makes money on them. Mine is now in my garage.

I am an RN now,but when I started dialysis, I was a tech. I learned dialysis on the job. I tried to go to every learning opportunity that I could. I never let my job title stop me from learning something new. I also became Bonent certified as soon as I learned about that. Now certification is mandatory. Then I became an lpn. Now an Rn.Never a dull moment. Good luck in your new career. Reply if you have questions or get discouraged and need an ear:).

Take the position. I have found dialysis to be the most rewarding interesting job I have had. I have been here 23 years. The hours are long, but it is not a constant. Turnover is busy and then there is a lull. Know your labs, practice sticking a lot. Yiou will have plenty of time to get to know your patients. I had 1 patient for 7 years. 3 times a week. You do get to know them very well.