ClumsyOne

I've been working in chronic dialysis as a floor and charge nurse for a few years. Recently I interviewed with a different company and received a job offer for nurse manager position in chronic hd center. I accepted the offer, but now keep on thinking how it's gonna work out- I have no experience as a nm and they offer no training. it is basically learn as you go. What are your thoughts or experience on this? Is it worth trying?

How do you do pre/post treatment assessments in a fast paced chronic dialysis clinic? When I get to do a pre treatment assessment a patient's treatment is already running, some patients wear thick clothing and I cannot hear anything when auscultating, for instance. What should I pay special attention to when assessing the patient, how to do it effectively and in a less time, I guess?

Just started as a dialysis nurse. And as a nurse in general. Two weeks since I started. While first week was only computer now I learn to work on the floor as a pct for a first month and then the nursing part will start as well. Last week my preceptor showed me how to set up a dialysis machine himself, and then moving on to another machine during turn over asked me to set that one myself, which I didn't do that well. So I asked him to walk me through the process while I am doing it, which helped me much better then just observing him. it was three days (that I worked that week) on the floor, the last day I felt like I did much better at setting up/priming the machines. I am also very anxious about everything and feel pretty overwhelmed, for there is still so much new info to learn. But today the nurse told me that I am being too slow, and the preceptor cannot move on to another tasks cause I am not good at priming the machine I really thought it was the matter of practice. I tried to work faster today but then I make pretty silly mistakes. So it is just really discouraging. For those who once were new to dialysis, how much time did it take for you to learn the machine and work at a normal pace. And how did the learning go in general?

Thank you! You are right, I am trying to look at it this way too, as an experience I will learn from. I wouldn't compromise patient care because of my personal feelings. I just know that I will be pretty cold towards him providing all the necessary care. (Or avoid him when I can if there's another nurse around). And i am not a cold person, so he'll see the difference if he notices the way I communicate with others. I am pretty sure he is not happy with me too and after reading the comments (knowing what he is capable of), I worry he'd try to harm me in some way, like constantly complaining or smth, idk. (getting paranoid here a lil)

It's not about revenge. (not like I'm gonna have access to his teeth anyway (Tooth for tooth, right?) jk) I will provide proper care if I am assigned to care for him. I take my job real seriously and as a new nurse will be extra careful, no matter who the patient is. But with this patient I know I won't be able to be friendly or encouraging and things like that.

I am just starting in nursing, and have no previous experience, it is not like I have employers lined up waiting to hire me. If I had other choice than work there I would take it. As far as I know there are at least two nurses in the morning and at night usually, and about 4 during the day. Some come in at 5 am and leave at 6 pm, and other two come in at 9 am and leave at 10 pm or something like that. I am not worried of not being able to provide objective care. I am very conscientious person and always try hard at performing my job ( no matter what the job is). I worry about the human connection/communication aspect, I don't think I'd be able to be friendly and even look this person in the eyes. I am still deeply appalled by the way he treated me as a professional and as a human being. And I don't think he'd be happy to see me either so I don't know how he will act in that situation, so I am concerned about that sort of thing.

Ouch! I am sorry you've gone through that.

Even if I put it behind (not quite sure yet how :), there is no guarantee that a person like him will be acting normal and not constantly complain about me, as someone else mentioned. I see your point. I did communicate a lot with difficult people, although not in a clinical setting yet. I am very empathic myself. I always try to find good in people. But this one is the whole different level. ugh

Would you be able to put that aside and start anew with a patient? He is very experienced and expensive dentist, and that is why I went to his office, but the way he treated me made me think that he is rather a sociopath than just incompetent. I had to get back my money through carecredit, and now will have to spend so much more on fixing what he has done. Thank you for your opinion! I am trying to think it through and see how to not let my emotions get in the way of my work (meaning how to actually let it go and act like nothing happened, although I will probably have to talk to my supervisor at some poin and ask not to assign me to work with that patient)

That is another concern of mine. I'm gonna have 90 day training in another clinic before I start working in this one.

Why? I'm afraid I won't be in a position to switch clinics for a while. Can the nurse though ask tochange the assignment and refuse to treat the patient?

I soon will be starting a job in dialysis. Yay! In the same facility my former dentist goes to. I feel really bad about this person. He really messed up my teeth and was very unprofessional and neglectful towards me. He has no ethics or conscience. I don't wanna go in too many details here. And I don't even know how I will interact with that person again and as their nurse especially. I will be as professional as I should just like with all the other patients. but being friendly or having a small talk with this person seems like will be way too hard for me to do. What do you do in a situation when you have such a strong dislike for a patient whom you know outside work and have personal reasons to dislike?

do you carry any reference notebook with you or something? What do you do if you are suddenly required to perform a procedure that you have no/vague idea of, and there is no other nurse around? Did it happen often when you started?

Where I live BSN is required for hospital positions mostly (NYC), I did apply to some hospitals to no avail. And I think it is pretty hard in the big city (especially) for a new grad to land a hospital position, and I graduated a long time ago.

I graduated from a nursing school in Europe 5 years ago and relocated to the US shortly after. I haven't worked as a nurse yet and it's only a few months since I obtained an RN license. So I have quite a gap between graduation and licensure. I did really good at school, and I know if given a proper training, I would adjust and learn to do things alright. But the nursing homes I contacted usually only give around 5 days of orientation (14 at most). Which doesn't seem like enough time to catch up on all the nursing skills the job may require. has anybody been in a similar situation. Is it a good idea trying nursing homes with no previous experience at all? What departments within LTC facility would be better for new nurses to start in to work safely with such little training period. I also consider dialysis nursing, but in a long run I'd like to work in a hospital, so I thought that LTC would be better experiencewise