Quick advice

Wheaties · Sep 22, 2016

The thing is you will never know what you will like unless you try. i only did 1 day clinical Rotation as a nurse in OR and 1 day in acute hemodialysis as a student nurse. I'm a medsurg tele for many years.

this is really tough decision. Getting an OR position seems like it's hard. Although I saw several openings in my area. Dialysis is also hard work, but not compared to bedside nursing such as med-surg or tele or ICU. you can definitely also learn a lot in dialysis as opposed to OR unless you work in PACU. Chronic Dialysis patients are more stable which may be a good thing as opposed to the very sick acute dialysis patients.

I would give OR a go just because it gets your foot in the hospital and it would be easier to transfer if you want to in the future to other areas in that hospital. Not saying dialysis is bad, it's a great specialty, but it is demanding base on the nurses I've talked to, but much easier than the floor( please feel fee to correct and disagree because I could be wrong lol)

i have a question, what made you apply for davita dialysis? Any reason in particular?

Sweetlillove, BSN, RN · Sep 22, 2016

Thank you for the advice, I am bending towards OR because I likedon't it, I just don't know how I will be treated. With these two positions I am scared to be type castes as a nurse and not be able to change areas.

I went to a DaVita open house, about 100 to 150 nurses attended, so I felt good to be called back. It comes along with a 2 yr retention contract!yikes but nevertheless a good opportunity for a new grad.

What scares me about DaVita is I have read of nurses being left alone in the buidling, 20 patients hooked up, and they are one week off orientation. This terrifies me!

Wheaties · Sep 22, 2016

I don't think you will be typecast. Other nurses in this forum can vouch for that as well. There's absolutely nothing wrong with staying in one area for many years. Each nurse will gain experience no matter what. I'm assuming you just graduated and a brand new nurse. Just think of it this way, you have the full future ahead of you and you can do and go anywhere as a nurse. I worked on the floor for nearly a decade as an RN, and though it might sound like a bad thing and a negative, I'm grateful for the experience.

my mom is a dialysis nurse, mainly acute in the hospital, and per diem in davita. so yeah I believe that horror story with da vita. i too definitely want a change in nursing area. I'm interested in OR but I don't have any prior experience.

dream'n, BSN, RN · Sep 22, 2016

My opinion is to take the OR job. Davita tends to hire quite alot, but the OR can be very tricky to get into. If you hate the OR, I think you would still be able to try Davita; but if you hated Davita I think it would be hard to get another chance at the OR position. Plus OR experienced nurses are generally quite sot after.

Sweetlillove, BSN, RN · Sep 22, 2016

The OR is not so willing to train I have found. All require experience but apply anyway! Use keywords in your resume that apply to OR nursing duties and your resume will get picked up!!!

dream'n, BSN, RN · Sep 22, 2016

The OR is not so willing to train I have found. All require experience but apply anyway! Use keywords in your resume that apply to OR nursing duties and your resume will get picked up!!!

I don't want to work in the OR or dialysis. I was giving my opinion on your OP. Dialysis would definitely not be for me. And all the standing in the OR, too much for me at my age.

nutella, MSN, RN · Sep 22, 2016

New nurses can't be alone in a dialysis building unless they have so and so much experience...

However, if you like OR and the tasks I would give it a try.

I had a long clinical in an OR during nursing school and had some more contact when I worked as a nurse in the anesthesia department.

I think your expectations have to be realistic about how much warm human interaction you will get. It is still very traditional in terms of hierarchy and such. There was not much talking with the OR nurses and they really rely on the somebody doing a good job. The surgeons can be so and so - depends on the place.

I think you will always be able to get a job in dialysis if you do not like OR as it has a high turnover nowadays. It used to be a great field but like every other place in nursing, the lower reimbursement by Medicare for treatments have also led to crazy work conditions in dialysis.

The OR is a great area where you can get specialized and I think you would have no problems finding a job or other position once you are trained with experience. They pay better but you may have on call ...

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Sep 22, 2016

Any hospital position will be better than Davita. Davita needs somebody with RN after their name to CY Davita's A while they make a gazillion $$$ dialyzing as many people that they can.

The hospital will train you to OR, if you don't like it ,you can transfer in 6 months.

Best wishes, whatever you decide.

Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP · Sep 22, 2016

There are a lot of people down on Davita on this thread, but I worked for them for 5 years and I had a blast! I was the coordinator of a large acute program and they are some of my favorite memories. I've never heard of one nurse being left with 20 patients...I don't think I believe that, and if it happened it's more down to that particular facility than a corporate culture. That would certainly not be condoned by the company. Having said that I worked in acutes which was fantastic. I don't think I'd ever want to work in chronics and unless you have acute/ICU experience you might find it hard to get into acutes. Personally, I would probably go for the OR because it's in a hospital so you get your foot in the door, and it's probably more marketable. Davita has good career prospects and is quite secure employment. I have many friends who have worked for them for 10, 20 years. Good luck!

Sweetlillove, BSN, RN · Sep 22, 2016

Thank you! Initially I became very excited about DaVita but the post about them are just dreadful! I'm going to take my time deciding and try to forget about anyone that made my life hell in the OR.

ottersloveoysters · Sep 22, 2016

I know nurses that work for DaVita and enjoy it but you seem more drawn to the OR job. Also, you may mesh with the OR nurses differently as a full time employee, as opposed to an extern. And, like other said, you will be in a hospital system with the freedom to explore other opportunities down the line.