Second thoughts about dialysis job offer......down to the wire

[Lucky724]

I've posted here before and looked at other posts re: dialysis...in a nutshell I have been offered a dialysis clinic position that I interviewed for about a month ago. They are not hospital affliated though they are owned by one of the biggies and its chronics.

I can't explain it but I am really, really hesitant about the dialysis job though the $ and consistency of a FT job would provide more stability. I do have another option elsewhere (non dialysis) about the same hourly rate but at this point it would only be PRN which could change down the road. For some reason I don't think the hiring manager is being straight up about what the expectations are, the hours have already changed and someone I happened to be talking with last night has a family member who works there (I didn't know this) and said the only RN that has been in the clinic has been staffed by local agencies for a year because no one ends up staying. She said it is mainly because the RN does very, very little..that the LPN and Tech run everything and the RN ends up assisting at times, giving some meds or intervening if something goes wrong which is, according to this person, rare. I would rather be consistently busy then waiting around.

I have an interst in dialysis, learning something new..etc. but I can't get past this gnawing. I am fearful if I don't take it the PRN won't provide enough income and yet, I feel like if I do take it that blows any chance of the PRN position becoming anything more and I don't think I would get my foot back in the door again at this facility because it's a popular place to work and positions are few and far between. I would not be able to work both

jobs because the schedules would conflict. I also don't understand why it's taken a year for this facility to hire another nurse.........

I am literally sick to my stomach about this..again, I don't know why. Maybe I'm just nervous about a new flavor of nursing. I don't know. Where I live it is very difficult to find work - rural and lots of places not hiring so I know if I take this position I'm in it - like it or not - for some time.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Are you able to shadow at the dialysis unit? THat might allay your fears.

[DaniRN1]

I have been in dialysis for 14 years, 8 of them as an RN. Any clinic, or job, for that matter, can be run by lousy managers/staff. There is no way to know that until you work there. I can tell you, that as the supervising RN in a 17 station clinic, I was busy. I was autonomous and I loved the job. I learned so much about nursing. I also jumped in and did everything I could...clean, put patients on, make schedules, etc. I, too love to be busy, so when I did have down time, I created something to do. The descision, as you know, is up to you, so good luck!

[Tish88]

I agree with shadowing at the clinic. Is there a chance to talk to this RN about the position or anyone else that works there?

It is hard to believe the RN at this clinic is not busy. There is always something that needs done while the patients are doing their treatment.

[Marshall1]

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