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Coming from the ER, HD is a piece of cake. Its a different kind of stress and pace. Like the previous posters wrote it depends on who you work with.

Staten Island NY $34.00/hr, plus night differential....Here's the kicker... Ready....14.5-15.5 hr shifts....I don't know how I do it!!!!

Rose_Queen thanks for responding, I tried to consolidate and stretch the loan for 20 yrs which by then I will have retired and would have paid a grand total of 92,000 for ASN (ridiculous) I was researching Western Gov University or Chamberlain for BSN, both very different in price and work load. Im nervous about the work load and if I can handle it with deadlines. I work 5 days a week for a very busy dialysis clinic. I will be there 1 yr in June. I have been a nurse for only 2 yrs, first year as an ER nurse. Where did you go for BSN and MSN? And how did you find the work load.. Im a nervous Nelly lol.

I just graduated 2 yrs ago (AS) and currently owe $46,000. I took loans out through the US government and started paying back approx $550 a month for the next 10 yrs. I want to persue my BSN online but cant afford to tack on more to this loan. When I hear people getting their masters degree or doctorate, I wonder how much they actually owe and how they can afford it. I live in New York area and don't qualify for financial aide, I have a home and 3 kids ( who are going to college in 2 yrs) My employer only pays $1200 a YEAR, which isn't much... Please let me know how everyone is paying back these loans besides scholarships.. Thanks

Its my second job and Im not going to leave until Im 100% sure. I left the ED and now work in an out patient HMD clinic. Was it wrong to leave the hospital cause people are telling me I should have stuck it out there and put up with it.

My long story short is that I have wanted to do either ER,OR, L&D. I was a dialysis tech for 18 yrs before I graduated with AS degree, at age 39, have a family and I was blessed with getting a position as a ER nurse (level 3) for a busy hospital right out of nursing school and before I even took my boards. I lasted 1 1/2 years. I cried a lot (like a baby at times) from the stress and pressure (probably more than I should have because I was afraid of hurting someone, getting fired or being reprimanded), I always felt like someone was choking me. The more experienced nurses would tell me to relax, stop putting so much pressure on myself, your doing fine, most of these cases are bologna. Just don't let your guard down because that "abd pain can be a GI bleed or worse". I began looking into the OR but the schedule didn't work (3 kids,dogs,house,husband, being on call etc, maybe later on when the kids are more independent). I then looked into L&D, which was crazy hectic too like the ER (some days). So I went back to what I thought would be my comfort zone,dialysis. I started off very ambitious wanting to climb up the "Coperate ladder". The facility is very busy with a new nurse manager (trying to make changes), adding more patients and not having enough staff. We are experiencing a high nurse and tech turn over rate. My feet hurt (14 hour shifts) and some of the staff either don't care, are just lazy,know how to disappear off the floor,gossip too much, are just slow or pretend they are stupid and don't know what is going on:sneaky:. I have worked in a few facilities and know that this is typical of any job. I want to pursue my BSN and maybe be management one day but cant afford it until my AS degree is paid for( in 10 yrs+). I'm 41 now, kids will be going to college in 2 yrs. and I still feel LOST/DAZED and don't know if this job is right and I feel like a baby. People tell me being management stinks too even though you are not running around with direct patient contact all the time. They tell me to stay where I am, go to work, do your job, collect a paycheck and come home and enjoy yourself. Dialysis is very repetitious and a little boring as far as to what I was used to in the ER, def not as stressful which is a plus but I just started this job (3 months) but feel like I "never left", if that makes sense. I don't want to jump from job to job anymore and feel like "I don't know what I want to do when I grow up". , Do I stay where I am, give it a chance, start looking for another specialty? I don't know anymore.

I agree with NurseRies, great company. I worked in the ER for a year and a half. I loved the ER and learned so much. I was a dialysis tech for 18yrs and finally got my RN. The shifts are long but I love working 3 days a week and you get use to it.There is plenty of extra shifts to pick up for OT. The transition from ER to HD wasn' hard at all, actually I had to learn to slow down. My unit has 26 stations M-W-F has 3 shifts and we close by 7:30pm and T-TH-S is 4 shifts and we leave at 11pm. I have 13 patients BUT I also have an LPN and two techs to my section which is approx 4:1 ratio ( depends if some pt's show up) and there are approx 4-5 Rn's and nurse manager every day in the unit so your not technically by yourself. I dispense meds to 13 pt and takes about 30 min. It is very repetitious and boring at times but its busy if that makes sense. I love the fact that I get breaks without interruptions and its a heck of alot less stress than what I had!!! Where are you working now? Definitely look into it.

Hi everyone, Our techs and RN's work 14 1/2 hr shifts 3 days a week:yuck:,.

Hello FinallyRN7, I work for that company in NY. Dialysis staff work very long hours ( I work 14 1/2 hr shifts). Maybe because they don't want to scare anyone off lol.

I graduated in 2012, and got a job in the ED right after school. I worked there for alittle over 1 yr and left because the level of stress is crazy. I learned so much and and I am so glad I got that experience. I now work in dialysis (out pt clinic in NY). I was a dialysis tech for 18 yrs and understand both RN and tech issues. I love dialysis but it is challenging in the beginning but does get easy as in any other job. Just remember never stop thinking as to what CAN happen to the pt and always think WHAT ELSE can I do to improve the pt overall well-being and the unit as well. Be a leader not a follower and do what you were taught to do in school and from your edu in-service. Chart the way you were taught to chart and don't get lazy with it because your licenses depends on it. Remember when the **** hits the fan they are coming after YOU the RN first.

bahaha!!!!! So TRUE!!! hahaha

Hi all, Im a new grad RN in NJ and was hired as an ER RN. I just got thru my first week of hosp orientation. This Monday I will be observing in the ER, Im excited, nervous, intimidated and feel like I know NOTHING lol but I wont let them see that haha... Wish me luck!!

Im a new grad Jan 2013 and was hired to work in the ED. I was an EMT (in my younger years) but I have to say I feel pretty nervous, excited, intimidated and anxious all at the same time. I feel like I dont remember any of my skills and I just pray I dont choke under the pressure. My manager said you will cry everyday for 6 months but if you can make it 1 yr in the ER you will never leave. Now I have to get my ACLS and PALS certification I hope it gives me more confidence... Any advice is really appreiciated

RefresherRN I live on Staten Island and commute to Elizabeth NJ (not the best area) because NY is enforcing BSN only.

Hi everyone! December new grad here and just took the NCLEX RN (glad that's over) and I start the ER in April. I'm super excited but so nervous at same time. I love reading all your posts. How do you handle the arrogant staff members that cant be bothered, ignore or look at you as if you know nothing?