Thnking of Hemo nursing

NephroBSN, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2006

I am currently working on Tele and on our floor we perform peritoneal dialysis. During school we attended a hemo clinic and I was interested at the time. I am an RN but graduated may '05. I don't want to enter a field in which I am over my head. I prefer to study about things before jumping in. Any thoughts? Should I get more experience? Can I work prn to see if I like it? There is a new dialysis center opening up in my area.

Dialysis takes about a year to really feel comfortable. It takes about 2 months to "learn" so working PRN is pretty much out of the question until you become proficient.

You might ask the local unit if you can shadow a nurse for a day. It's fast paced and there is a lot to learn so you really need to work consequetive days to get in the groove....

Good luck. Can't hurt to ask if you can shadow.

tonet0908 · Mar 10, 2006

I am thinking about becoming a dialysis nuse as well. I have only been an RN for the past 7 months so I am still learning. I just want to know how much schooling I have to do or how many more credits or courses I have to take? Should I get certified for Nephrology, hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis together? I don't know, I'm very confused. Also, will I have to go to grad school or is it just a certification course. Please help me because I do not really like the med/surg/tele floor that I am on but I am willing to stay there until I go into this dialysis field. Thank you very much for your anticipated help.

krups · Mar 11, 2006

Some dialysis clinics require an RN to have critical care experience, however most only want the RN degree. If you are an old or new RN start applying at different clinics and you will probably get hired somewhere if you show an interest. Lots of energy and a postitive, willingness to learn attitude are necessary in dialysis.

NephroBSN, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2006

I am thinking about becoming a dialysis nuse as well. I have only been an RN for the past 7 months so I am still learning. I just want to know how much schooling I have to do or how many more credits or courses I have to take? Should I get certified for Nephrology, hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis together? I don't know, I'm very confused. Also, will I have to go to grad school or is it just a certification course. Please help me because I do not really like the med/surg/tele floor that I am on but I am willing to stay there until I go into this dialysis field. Thank you very much for your anticipated help.

You will learn dialysis OJT On the Job Training. You can't get ceritfied until you've been in it for a year. Certified Hemodialysis Nurse and Certified Nephrology Nurse is two years with BSN.

You just need to be an RN to start with.. See my post above your's for more info.

Try it you might like it. Lots to learn.

If I were younger I'd go for Nurse Practitioner..

Good luck

SotaRN · Mar 12, 2006

I'm also a recent grad, graduated in March 05...I worked on a cardiac unit in a large hospital for 4 months & hated it. On a whim, I applied for a job in a dialysis center & was hired. I was very overwhelmed at first & thought I'd never learn...just learning how to operate the machines and troubleshoot when problems arise is overwhelming b/c there is so much to think about at one time, and that's just the machine! On top of that, you have a patient attached to the machine to always be aware of. It took me about 2 months of just plain old repetition to get to the point where I could do things with some level of comfort & confidence.

Now, I'm charging at a new clinic & absolutely love it. Typically, you should have minimum 2 years experience before being in a charge role, but due to limited staffing, I was given the opportunity & have done well with it. I've learned so much...my assessment skills & critical thinking skills grow every day...I've learned to key in quickly on the 'something not's right here'. I'm constantly figuring out new ways to manage my time which is crucial (and they just don't teach you time mgmt in school). I love getting to know the patients & their histories and learning their baselines vs. the hospital setting where you might have a pt once and then they're discharged. I feel like I'm really involved in their care as opposed to the hospital where I felt like it was just a rat race.

The PD in the hospital is nothing like the hemo in a clinic, so I don't think that what you've seen is a good indicator. You really should consider spending a day in a clinic just to see what it's like. A positive attitude is key and you have to be willing to learn b/c there is lots to learn. I would say too that if you decide to go into dialysis, pay attention to how the staff acts before you agree to take a job...the attitude of the staff can make or break a clinic in a heartbeat b/c dialysis is truly a team effort...from the PCT's to the nurses to the administrator to the MD's.

Dialysis is VERY fast paced and VERY hard work (but what in nursing isn't?!) and at the end of the day I feel like I've run a marathon, but I have much more of a feeling of satisfaction at the end of the day and don't question why I ever decided to go into nursing like I did when I worked in a hospital.

Feel free to write me if you have any questions & good luck!!!

NephroBSN, BSN, RN · Mar 12, 2006

I'm also a recent grad, graduated in March 05...I worked on a cardiac unit in a large hospital for 4 months & hated it. On a whim, I applied for a job in a dialysis center & was hired. I was very overwhelmed at first & thought I'd never learn...just learning how to operate the machines and troubleshoot when problems arise is overwhelming b/c there is so much to think about at one time, and that's just the machine! On top of that, you have a patient attached to the machine to always be aware of. It took me about 2 months of just plain old repetition to get to the point where I could do things with some level of comfort & confidence.
Now, I'm charging at a new clinic & absolutely love it. Typically, you should have minimum 2 years experience before being in a charge role, but due to limited staffing, I was given the opportunity & have done well with it. I've learned so much...my assessment skills & critical thinking skills grow every day...I've learned to key in quickly on the 'something not's right here'. I'm constantly figuring out new ways to manage my time which is crucial (and they just don't teach you time mgmt in school). I love getting to know the patients & their histories and learning their baselines vs. the hospital setting where you might have a pt once and then they're discharged. I feel like I'm really involved in their care as opposed to the hospital where I felt like it was just a rat race.
The PD in the hospital is nothing like the hemo in a clinic, so I don't think that what you've seen is a good indicator. You really should consider spending a day in a clinic just to see what it's like. A positive attitude is key and you have to be willing to learn b/c there is lots to learn. I would say too that if you decide to go into dialysis, pay attention to how the staff acts before you agree to take a job...the attitude of the staff can make or break a clinic in a heartbeat b/c dialysis is truly a team effort...from the PCT's to the nurses to the administrator to the MD's.
Dialysis is VERY fast paced and VERY hard work (but what in nursing isn't?!) and at the end of the day I feel like I've run a marathon, but I have much more of a feeling of satisfaction at the end of the day and don't question why I ever decided to go into nursing like I did when I worked in a hospital.
Feel free to write me if you have any questions & good luck!!!

Excellent post. You've pretty much summed it all up.

I will say that after you get those first couple of years in it will slow down because you will have "seen it all" pretty much and just know automatically what to do.

I was never in charge before I started traveling but now I am often.

I have to laugh though. At the unit I am working now I can't be in charge on days when there is plenty of extra knowledge floating around. But I'm in charge on evening until 2200 .. LOL

Good luck to anyone who wants to try hemodialysis I think you will love it.

As the saying goes "It gets in your blood"

english_nurse · Apr 19, 2006

hi, i work on a nephrology ward in england, i dont do heamo as that is restricted to the unit but i look after the patients who are inpatients if they are unwell, i do perform peritoneal dialysis for patients who are unwell, or unable to do theirs for any reason, we also offer an emergency community service, where if during the night patients experiance problems with their PD. They can ring for advice or come in if their catheter is blocked/contaminated and we change it for them as an outpatient.

I love that i know most of my patients and their families very well, often if somone telephones in the night i know who they are which makes my job much easier.

i am moving to the USA in October, and will miss my unit. how easy is it to get into Pd in the USA? will i need to do extra study? i have a RN licence for the USA after passing NCLEX, where do i go from here?

Do dialysis nurses tend to be employed by hospitals? or by the companies ie Baxter/Fresenius?

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Apr 19, 2006

I'm also a recent grad, graduated in March 05...I worked on a cardiac unit in a large hospital for 4 months & hated it. On a whim, I applied for a job in a dialysis center & was hired. I was very overwhelmed at first & thought I'd never learn...just learning how to operate the machines and troubleshoot when problems arise is overwhelming b/c there is so much to think about at one time, and that's just the machine! On top of that, you have a patient attached to the machine to always be aware of. It took me about 2 months of just plain old repetition to get to the point where I could do things with some level of comfort & confidence.
Now, I'm charging at a new clinic & absolutely love it. Typically, you should have minimum 2 years experience before being in a charge role, but due to limited staffing, I was given the opportunity & have done well with it. I've learned so much...my assessment skills & critical thinking skills grow every day...I've learned to key in quickly on the 'something not's right here'. I'm constantly figuring out new ways to manage my time which is crucial (and they just don't teach you time mgmt in school). I love getting to know the patients & their histories and learning their baselines vs. the hospital setting where you might have a pt once and then they're discharged. I feel like I'm really involved in their care as opposed to the hospital where I felt like it was just a rat race.
The PD in the hospital is nothing like the hemo in a clinic, so I don't think that what you've seen is a good indicator. You really should consider spending a day in a clinic just to see what it's like. A positive attitude is key and you have to be willing to learn b/c there is lots to learn. I would say too that if you decide to go into dialysis, pay attention to how the staff acts before you agree to take a job...the attitude of the staff can make or break a clinic in a heartbeat b/c dialysis is truly a team effort...from the PCT's to the nurses to the administrator to the MD's.
Dialysis is VERY fast paced and VERY hard work (but what in nursing isn't?!) and at the end of the day I feel like I've run a marathon, but I have much more of a feeling of satisfaction at the end of the day and don't question why I ever decided to go into nursing like I did when I worked in a hospital.
Feel free to write me if you have any questions & good luck!!!

I am a traveling hemodialysis nurse and I agree with the above post 100%!

Being a traveler, I have worked at 9 hemo units in the last three years. Team work, staff attitudes and how good your manager is makes or breaks a hemo unit.

I have worked horrible hemo units that make me want to run away from the unit never to return and I have worked great ones. If you shadow a nurse or are given a tour of a unit as part of an interview, pay close attention to the attitudes that the staff are projecting.