Wanting to explore dialysis nursing

Published

Specializes in Med Surg.

 I've been a med Surg nurse for almost 5 years. I've also been a travel nurse for about a year and a half and counting. I'm just tired of being burnt out from bedside nursing and was thinking of other options such as dialysis nursing. I feel as though I'm capable to do this job. It's just scary going into something new. What would y'all recommend for me to do to get started? Should I get my certification first and then apply for a job or if it's an option to certify through the job should I do that? Also if anyone has ever worked at DaVita can you share some insight on your work experience there. Pros and cons of dialysis nursing in general. Thanks!

 

 

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

I work for the other big dialysis provider so I can't give specifics about DaVita but I can say I switched to dialysis from a 25 year career spent entirely in SNF and will never go back.

No need to pursue certification prior to working in that setting, actually I believe you need a specific number of hours in the field before certification is even an option. There's more than adequate training and you can certainly work on your certification after you feel a little more comfortable in your role should you decide on dialysis nursing. It is a very specialized field and it took me about a year before I felt like I wasn't a complete rookie with no idea what I was doing.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg/Tele.

HI, I'm in the same boat. Burnt from med/surg and am thinking of dialysis. I read that it can get hectic during the times when you take patients off and put incoming patients in. But I wonder how it compares to med/surg busy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Dialysis.
26 minutes ago, SpaceCows said:

But I wonder how it compares to med/surg busy.

It's a different kind of busy. If you have med surg under your belt, you can handle it. I came to it with 25 years under my belt. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but I love it. Give it a try, you may find you like it as well

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg/Tele.
1 minute ago, Hoosier_RN said:

It's a different kind of busy. If you have med surg under your belt, you can handle it. I came to it with 25 years under my belt. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but I love it. Give it a try, you may find you like it as well

Gotcha, thank you! I am interviewing with one of the 'big 2' outpatient dialysis clinics soon.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg/Tele.

The only thing that has kept me in med surg so far is that I love the floor staff that I work with. But I just feel like it's too much now.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have been in dialysis for 12 years and have done just about everything. I have been an in-center nurse; a PD nurse; helped with home hemo; currently an acute dialysis travel nurse. I will tell you what I was told when I started . . . you will either love it or you will hate it. It really does take a different kind of person to deal with all we do. Many nurses and techs have come into dialysis thinking that it is a cushy job and you just sit and monitor a patient. I can tell you that is NOT what dialysis is. If you are a clinic employee (in-center) your days start very early (some places at 3am) and some go overnight (nocturnal hemo). Acute dialysis is for us crazy people because it is either feast or famine. There are days that go on for 24 hours; there are days you are on call and are called in multiple times and then there are the days where you have 1 patient to run. If you are a staff employee, you just don't get your hours for the week when it is famine time. Also, no matter where you work, you will see the same people over and over . . . it is hard when you care more about the patient's life than they do. Also, I was told that I would not truly understand dialysis for 18+ months . . . and they were right! I have seen nurses go from MS to Acutes and it is a HUGE shock to them. Please, do yourself a favor and if you truly are interested in nephrology and dialysis, spend a year in a clinic. You will not regret the decision.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Dialysis.
4 hours ago, ldyjstce said:

Please, do yourself a favor and if you truly are interested in nephrology and dialysis, spend a year in a clinic. You will not regret the decision.

Best advice. Love the part about incenter. They always think it's going to be a sit and watch job. Nope, but most days, it's physically easier than working med surg or LTC. I love dialysis, it's my retirement job

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion