Training at Fresinius

Jolie, BSN · Jun 23, 2006

When I worked in NICU, I was asked to do the same in exchange for ECMO training. I declined, as I knew that the unit was not a good fit for me and I doubted that I would last a year. I don't have a good impression of such requests, as I think it takes away the employer's incentive to treat their employees well. If you are really interested, you might want to investigate the possibility of having a future employer "buy you out" if you are unable/unwilling to stay for a year. Good luck!

iriskkerry · Jun 23, 2006

Thanks Jolie, couldn't they do whatever they want with you once you have completed the training knowing you cannot leave? I find it a bit frightening.

1940Nurse · Jun 24, 2006

I applied for a job at the local clinic. They insist that since I've been out of dialysis for almost 10 years that I take their 6 week traing classes. Here's the catch, in order to be able to take the classes I have to sign a yearlong contract whereby if I leave before that time I must repay them for the training. Anyone have a similar situation or a comment about this? I am an RN by the way, with extensive experience albeit was before 2000.

FRESENIUS has always given free training. They do require a commitment for going to RN school.

If they insist you "pay" for their training I'd tell them "not today" and be on my merry way. LOL

There is a nursing shortage in dialysis too.

That's why I travel.

A couple of, maybe three, years ago I wanted to go to Cincinnati. But I didn't have Pheonix machine experience. They wanted someone with a year's experience. At the time the Pheonix had only been out for about 2 years. And many weren't using it as it's software had too many "bugs" in it. So who had a year's experience anyway. So I didn't go to Cinncy. The next year they said they would take me and I told them I still don't have Pheonix machine experience so I can't come there.

Another company had some machine I'm not familiar with and they told me I had one day to learn that machine or I would be relagated to the Fresenius machines.. Broke my heart. P.S. I didn't go there either.

When I first learnt dialysis I was an LPN and when EPO came out I was "pushed" out. It was BMA then before Fresenius bought them out. I came back as an RN 9 years later to new machines etc and got two days orientation.. I hadn't forgotten much.

Personally, I wouldn't sign on with them with that stipulation. If they need/want nurses bad enough they won't make you pay..

JMHO

iriskkerry · Jun 24, 2006

1940: That's why I took the first Dialysis job that came up. I want to travel but you have to have recent dialysis experience. This is the only way I know to get it. But now I'll be stuck there for a year!:angryfire

1940Nurse · Jun 24, 2006

1940: That's why I took the first Dialysis job that came up. I want to travel but you have to have recent dialysis experience. This is the only way I know to get it. But now I'll be stuck there for a year!:angryfire[/quot
I wouldn't have done that. But that's me.
You need one year of recent experience any way in order to travel so I guess I'm not seeing the problem here.
Grand Junction CO is requiring 3 years. So get your year and travel. That's no unlike most travel positions.
Good luck

zoeintx · Jul 27, 2006

Fresenius is the worst company I have ever worked for.

tinamacRN · Aug 2, 2006

Fresenius is the worst company I have ever worked for.

Quit

zoeintx · Aug 3, 2006

Thank yall for your responses. I have been looking for employment elsewhere. Davita offered me more than I am making at Fresenius with several schedule options. I am working 13-14 hs a day because my administrator can save a buck by not getting me some permanent help. In her eyes it makes more sense to hire travel RN's. There are 3 in my clinic alone! You know what they cost. There goes my cost of living raise! As you can tell she has alot of brainpower. The reason I lose my PTO is because she won't let me off to take it and I am only allowed to sell it once a year. I make no apologies for my comments about FMC in North Texas. I have been working with the sorriest management known to mankind. They have gotton too big and no longer care about anything but $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. Something very unfortunate is going to happen to a patient, but not on my watch! Does your clinic allow only 2 cloths to clean a chair, machine, tv and any mess that spills on the floor? If someone bleeds all over we must use paper towels and you know they don't work worth a flip when it comes to cleaning up blood. My administrator comes by and checks the packs. God forbid one uses more than one cloth.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I could keep on going forever and ever. One more thing. She fired our Clinical Manager, fired an excellent charge RN, and let another go. She hasn't replaced any of them. I guess now her budget will look better. I am now the CM,charge, and med nurse. She is not a nurse and doesn't have a clue how hard it really is. My time is almost up and I can almost taste the freedom!!

tinamacRN · Aug 3, 2006

It sounds as if you have poor management and many problems in your area - I give you that - but the problems you are experiencing in your area doesn't mean those problems are throughout the entire company - too many times we "throw the baby out with the bath water" and make generalized statements about entire companies rather than being specific that the problems we are experiencing are in "our area"- I can't say if FMC is a great company or an awful company - I can only speak from my experience that I have had in the area I work in - it is the opposite of what you are experiencing - I have always had good administrators that supported me as a clinic manager and allowed me to make decisions that I felt were in the best interest of my patients, staff, and facility - yes, there is "penny pinching" but nowhere near the degree you are experiencing - I have staff who came here from DaVita and they talk about how "bad" DaVita is - once again, they have experience with one area not the entire company - I am truly sorry that your experience with FMC has been so negative - I hope you find a better clinic to practice in, no matter which company it is with - best of luck

ncbound · Aug 8, 2006

i worked for FMC and will NEVER work for them again ! they work their nurses like dogs and care more about $ than patients or staff. My experience was lack of administration back-up, a clinical manager who was over the acute unit but had never worked acute , 15-20 hr days -sometimes 10 in a row and when you ask,plead for help you're told "soon" . I no longer work for them and my BP is normal now and i get paid more for less hours-my advice do not work for Fresenius

Erica1019 · Aug 8, 2006

Kinda glad to hear this from you all. I also worked for Fresenius as a Dialysis tech....for about 4 weeks....I was a full time student, and they knew this WAY before hiring me. I straight forward told them "part time hours", however they forgot to inform me that their training program was full time....eesh....so I stuck it through that, then they told me the facility I was hired for wasnt in need of staff anymore...WHATTTTT?.....They offered to put me in a clinic 1 hr from my house...too much of a drive. I was also reprimanded for calling out once.....sorry if I dont want to come to work with untreated conjuctivitis.......so that was my exp. with this company......in my eyes, not the best.