What hours do acute nurses work?

[kate64]

Hi everyone - I have been an RN for 15 years and am contemplating dialysis. I'm beginning to research some of the more "practical" basics of the job like hours etc. I have a friend who works for a clinic and I know they work ungodly hours like 5:30 am. I am wondering if acute dialysis nurses can work evenings, like 3-11 shifts? Early mornings are torture to me. I have another question which may sound silly. I have had to wear my hair up for so many years now and it is layered so requires many bobby pins to keep it "all together" and up. I actually have scabs on my scalp from all the pins, which hurt - so I'm wondering if you have to wear your hair up when you go to the hospital to do acutes. Same thing with clinics - must you pin up your hair? I was working a hospital shift once and think I saw a dialysis nurse who basically had on street clothes and a lab coat and had her hair down. Thanks ahead. Don't know where else to get these minor questions answered. Kate

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Hi Kate. I work in five hospitals and the acute dialysis nurses usually work days but have a lot of call since obviously, they must be able to dialyze and set up CRRT 24/7. Would depend on the size of the hospital. As to hair up - yes, that is important due to infection control. There is always the potential for blood splatter (and it happens often), so keeping your head up, your goggles/face mask/gown/gloves on are all very important.

[jnette, ASN, EMT-I]

I've never heard of any "protocol" for having to wear your hair up... but certainly tied back if long makes sense. You will be doing a lot of bending over to get up close and personal to your patient's access site, and you don't want long hair getting in your line of vision, or to contaminate the patient's access.. nor would you want to get blood splattered on your hair.

Proper PPE is provided, and is most useful. :)