Schedule with inpatient/acute dialysis?

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Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone could tell me what their schedule is for working inpatient/acute dialysis? I am interviewing for a position on the dialysis unit in a hospital, and it says it is 0.9 FTE days. I am assuming this means three 12 hour shifts/week. What about on-call? I just would like to know what is normal and what I should expect. Is it normal to be on call 1 day extra per week, or more? Or do some hospitals not do on call for dialysis units? Of course I will be asking these questions of the employer, I would just like to have some idea going in.

Any info would be appreciated!!!

Thank you!!

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I currently work for one of the big 2, and I'm scheduled for 4 10's but lately its been more like 4 12's or 4 16's since we've had a HUGE influx of inpatients the past 2 weeks!

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Specializes in Critical Care and ED.

There really isn't a schedule for acutes. I used to go in around 6.30 or 7 but others would show up later. We'd work until the last patient was done. Most of the time we'd get out around 3 or 4pm. If I was in charge or on call I could be there until god knows when. We worked 4 days a week with every other weekend. We didn't do 12 hour shifts because we'd have to to three sets of patients and they'd tend to be done by afternoon. We had one guy who did 12 hours shifts but he didn't always get a third patient and might not get his hours. It's feast or famine in acute dialysis.

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I loved acute dialysis but the schedule....

In most hospitals nurses started around 6:30 or perhaps 7 am and he first patients come around 8 am if there is an acute dialysis room, if it is in room dialysis or critical care area the nurse would come in as early as 6 sometimes, takes the machine and just goes.

Long days and a lot of hours, a lot of on call...

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Acute Dialysis is an awesome job, but the schedule is challenging. Generally why most people leave. If you're scheduled to work, don't make any plans that evening because you'll likely have to break them. You go home when there aren't anymore patients. This isn't a 7-7 job. I've been trying to figure out for the last 3 years how to make it a set schedule and still have everyone get their hours, but its just almost impossible.

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Thanks for the info! ! Very informative. They ended up filling the position before they interviewed me, but it sounds like the schedule wouldn't have been a good fit for me anyway. I definitely rely on my hours to make ends meet and I would need to work full time every week without fail. I ended up getting another position that is 3 12s so it all worked out! I would still love to try out dialysis someday because it's so interesting, but maybe as prn to start.

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