What is it like working for Divata Dialysis?

RRN · Mar 4, 2005

I think it's going to be interesting to see how this buyout plays out. It merges two really large companies....will they look at Gambro's computer stuff (their online purchasing program is FAR superior to Davita's iprocurement, for example) -- will they perhaps utilize the best of both worlds or will it all go exactly "The Davita Way" as it stands? I think we're all in for a ride here.
Interestingly enough, I'm currently a perdiem teammate with Davita after leaving for a while...(hey we all need a change of scenery once in a while) but was approached about a CD position with Gambro. Less than 24 hours before my interview for that position I learned of the buyout. So Monday I become a Gambro CD and prepare to lead a possibly anxious team of nurses and PCTs into the new and unfamiliar (to them) world of Davita. And I believe it will be a very positive move. Davita believes firmly in its core values, as do I, it's NOT lip-service, and for those of you Gambro folks - i hope you know how to laugh - What nosonew didn't tell you about Kent Thiry is that he likes the three musketeers and he likes star wars. CQI people when certified are "Jedi Knights" and you WILL see Kent in his big feathered hat and holding his sword shouting "All for One - One for All"......:)
And the profit-sharing in the form of bonuses is nice too. In the rural GA area, at least, Davita pays MUCH better than Gambro since they do pay based on years of nursing experience and not years of dialysis experience. I don't yet know if that will mean a raise or what will happen to salaries but I really don't believe it's in Davita's general belief system to go cutting salaries. And 401ks rollover anyhow. That's the benefit of a 401k. They're portable.
Good luck to you all as we ride this wave!
Barbara

Davita staffs lean on the Nursing side of things. I just declined a CD job with Gambro because they wanted to decrease the nursing staff from 1:15 to 1:30.. Seems they are already in the Davita mode. That may be why you get all these great bonuses..Sorta you can pay me now or you can pay me later.. Gambro offered my a CD position in Baltimore that was low paying with a 15000 bonus.. That is if I turn things around.It's not guaranteed. And now Gambro has offered me a CM in another unit in Baltimore for more money than the CD position in the same city.. Things that make ya go hmmmmmmmmm..Same size units BTW..

Gambro has it all over Davita or Fresenius in the computer area. No chasing charts..Although Fresenius will be bringing out a new system in 2006. Probably in the nick of time. I think they should keep Gambro charting aspect of computer.

It will be real fun to watch the Davita/Gambro vs. Fresenius thingy over the next couple of years.

nosonew, BSN, RN · Mar 4, 2005

Davita staffs lean on the Nursing side of things. I just declined a CD job with Gambro because they wanted to decrease the nursing staff from 1:15 to 1:30.. Seems they are already in the Davita mode. That may be why you get all these great bonuses..Sorta you can pay me now or you can pay me later.. Gambro offered my a CD position in Baltimore that was low paying with a 15000 bonus.. That is if I turn things around.It's not guaranteed. And now Gambro has offered me a CM in another unit in Baltimore for more money than the CD position in the same city.. Things that make ya go hmmmmmmmmm..Same size units BTW..
Gambro has it all over Davita or Fresenius in the computer area. No chasing charts..Although Fresenius will be bringing out a new system in 2006. Probably in the nick of time. I think they should keep Gambro charting aspect of computer.
It will be real fun to watch the Davita/Gambro vs. Fresenius thingy over the next couple of years.

What are you referring to when you say CD (what is that?) and CM (what is that?) I work for Davita, have for 6+ years, don't know what those mean nor do I understand the 1:15 or 1:30 ratio. This has NOTHING to do with nursing or tech staff ratio to patient... so please clarify for everyone. Thanks.

RRN · Mar 4, 2005

What are you referring to when you say CD (what is that?) and CM (what is that?) I work for Davita, have for 6+ years, don't know what those mean nor do I understand the 1:15 or 1:30 ratio. This has NOTHING to do with nursing or tech staff ratio to patient... so please clarify for everyone. Thanks.

CD= Center Director .. CM = Clinincal Manager.

1:15 is ONE RN for 15 patients vs. 1:30 ONE RN for 30 patients.

And it has a whole lot do with "nursing and tech staff ratio to patient."

Remember Davita paid money and Davita is going to be doing the day to day running of the dialysis division.

nosonew, BSN, RN · Mar 4, 2005

CD= Center Director .. CM = Clinincal Manager.
1:15 is ONE RN for 15 patients vs. 1:30 ONE RN for 30 patients.
And it has a whole lot do with "nursing and tech staff ratio to patient."
Remember Davita paid money and Davita is going to be doing the day to day running of the dialysis division.

Davita calls them FA's (Facility Administrators)..and our ratio's are not like that. More like 1:10 RN, 1:4 PCT. Of course, if you have 10 chairs in your unit, 3 shifts, that equals 30 patients over the entire day...but only 10 at a time..which is easily doable with proper PCT staffing.

RRN · Mar 4, 2005

Davita calls them FA's (Facility Administrators)..and our ratio's are not like that. More like 1:10 RN, 1:4 PCT. Of course, if you have 10 chairs in your unit, 3 shifts, that equals 30 patients over the entire day...but only 10 at a time..which is easily doable with proper PCT staffing.

A rose by any other name. If you'll go back and re read my post you'll see that I was commenting on a Gambro unit. Also, I believe Davita staffs leaner that Gambro..And Davita did buy Gambro..

Your ratio's may not be that bad . I said I have seen them like that. I worked in a unit in NC. I was the only licensed nurse in the unit with 20 stations. Two full shifts a day.. The ratio for PCT's in PA is 1:5 and in MD 1:3.. It varies around the country. I am in a Fresenius unit now where the ratio is 1:24 many days..

These companies don't make money and pay all these bonuses by being over staffed or adequately staffed for that matter.

nosonew, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2005

A rose by any other name. If you'll go back and re read my post you'll see that I was commenting on a Gambro unit. Also, I believe Davita staffs leaner that Gambro..And Davita did buy Gambro..
Your ratio's may not be that bad . I said I have seen them like that. I worked in a unit in NC. I was the only licensed nurse in the unit with 20 stations. Two full shifts a day.. The ratio for PCT's in PA is 1:5 and in MD 1:3.. It varies around the country. I am in a Fresenius unit now where the ratio is 1:24 many days..
These companies don't make money and pay all these bonuses by being over staffed or adequately staffed for that matter.

Our district clinical educator was in our office today and I asked if there are places like what you described...she said YES! She knows of several units that are 1:24 or 1:36 due to lack of staffing. She states they can't FIND staff, nor can they retain them due to their lack of employees. I can't say I blame someone for that...I wouldn't work there under those circumstances either.

So, I must eat my own words... it does happen, although it is not due to wanting to save a buck, but due to NURSING SHORTAGE in those areas.

Just hearing about it made me sick to think of all those poor patients. BUT that isn't the way it is SUPPOSED to be, nor is it like that in MOST places. I personally love smaller units, because there is very little staff turnover and when you know your patients like the back of your hand, you can stay on top of the most minute change in their circumstances.

RRN · Mar 5, 2005

Our district clinical educator was in our office today and I asked if there are places like what you described...she said YES! She knows of several units that are 1:24 or 1:36 due to lack of staffing. She states they can't FIND staff, nor can they retain them due to their lack of employees. I can't say I blame someone for that...I wouldn't work there under those circumstances either.
So, I must eat my own words... it does happen, although it is not due to wanting to save a buck, but due to NURSING SHORTAGE in those areas.
Just hearing about it made me sick to think of all those poor patients. BUT that isn't the way it is SUPPOSED to be, nor is it like that in MOST places. I personally love smaller units, because there is very little staff turnover and when you know your patients like the back of your hand, you can stay on top of the most minute change in their circumstances.

It does have to do with $$$$. .I was offered $20/hour to stay on as the charge nurse. I worked as a traveler there for 6 months. I saw the other RN 3 times in 6 months. We worked opposite each other and used a big legal pad to communicate.

The first day I was there the area manager gave me the keys to the med room and said good luck.

RRN · Mar 5, 2005

It does have to do with $$$$. .I was offered $20/hour to stay on as the charge nurse. I worked as a traveler there for 6 months. I saw the other RN 3 times in 6 months. We worked opposite each other and used a big legal pad to communicate.
The first day I was there the area manager gave me the keys to the med room and said good luck.

Thanks for feeling sorry for me. And I did keep 80 patients in my mind. No more than a Nephrologist does.. I made rounds every shift and spoke to each patient. I listened to lungs and hearts and checked for edema. And then I gave meds. And helped with turnover and did it all again.. Kept up with monthly med lists.. etc.

RRN · Mar 5, 2005

Our district clinical educator was in our office today and I asked if there are places like what you described...she said YES! She knows of several units that are 1:24 or 1:36 due to lack of staffing. She states they can't FIND staff, nor can they retain them due to their lack of employees. I can't say I blame someone for that...I wouldn't work there under those circumstances either.
So, I must eat my own words... it does happen, although it is not due to wanting to save a buck, but due to NURSING SHORTAGE in those areas.
Just hearing about it made me sick to think of all those poor patients. BUT that isn't the way it is SUPPOSED to be, nor is it like that in MOST places. I personally love smaller units, because there is very little staff turnover and when you know your patients like the back of your hand, you can stay on top of the most minute change in their circumstances.

I worked in a unit in Carson City NV two years ago. They had one full time nurse ..Their only nurse actually.. It was a 12 station unit running three shift 6 days a week.. They said they were getting rid of travelers. 2 years ago. A traveler where I am working now went out there. They have no experienced nurses .. She is training all their new people ..They say the new nurses will be ready to run the unit in 13 weeks when she leaves. And they won't need travelers anymore. Yep.. Been there done that got the t-shirt..

Check out Davita's website.. See how many positions they have. And sometimes I have to fight for a tavel position working in their units. My company has a contract with Davita...

hunny_pye · Mar 6, 2005

I worked in a unit in Carson City NV two years ago. They had one full time nurse ..Their only nurse actually.. It was a 12 station unit running three shift 6 days a week.. They said they were getting rid of travelers. 2 years ago. A traveler where I am working now went out there. They have no experienced nurses .. She is training all their new people ..They say the new nurses will be ready to run the unit in 13 weeks when she leaves. And they won't need travelers anymore. Yep.. Been there done that got the t-shirt..
Check out Davita's website.. See how many positions they have. And sometimes I have to fight for a tavel position working in their units. My company has a contract with Davita...

i'm thinking of getting a job at davita, my quetion is how much do they pay a newly grad with a BSN degree in napa,vallejo & fairfield area?

TNX....

imperial · Mar 6, 2005

I think companies have their good and bad points and the bottom line is it depends on the individual unit and those working in that unit. All companies have great units and all have ones with deplorable conditions related to delivery of patient care.. Just take a look at any of the survey results and you will see the horror stories... those are the facilities that need to be changed. So, I ask,, from you all who certainly appear to be dedicated well educated dialysis staff, how does one change a unit that is bad to a good one. When I state bad, I am referring to mistakes made by staff due to lack of education, mistakes made in water treatment, dialysate, entering information into machine, etc. Most of these mistakes, that I have reviewed/read are related to lack of education and from staff who are not well trained. I wish all the units had staff as you all here.

RRN · Mar 6, 2005

I think companies have their good and bad points and the bottom line is it depends on the individual unit and those working in that unit. All companies have great units and all have ones with deplorable conditions related to delivery of patient care.. Just take a look at any of the survey results and you will see the horror stories... those are the facilities that need to be changed. So, I ask,, from you all who certainly appear to be dedicated well educated dialysis staff, how does one change a unit that is bad to a good one. When I state bad, I am referring to mistakes made by staff due to lack of education, mistakes made in water treatment, dialysate, entering information into machine, etc. Most of these mistakes, that I have reviewed/read are related to lack of education and from staff who are not well trained. I wish all the units had staff as you all here.

Imperial. The companies have to put their money where their mouth is.. Many of these techs work very hard. And on a tight schedule. Most make in the 8-12/hr range.. I'm not targeting any techs or nurses. But you do get what you pay for.. Many times poor performers be them nurses, techs, or whomever aren't fired or reprimanded because there is NO ONE to replace them..

IMHO it takes at least a year to really "get" dialysis and 2 years to feel comfortable. I've been in it since 1987 on and off and I still learn something new every day.

The educaton again IMHO is flawed. FMC does all it's book learning in 4 weeks ..Just day after day of lectures.. And then reality sets in quickly when the new staff get to the floor.. They are bombarded. Most units don't have good mentors. Some have been doing it for a long time and have old bad habits. Newer mentors aren't experienced enough to be mentors.

And it does come down to money.. If you want quality you have to pay for it And discipline has to be maintained. If you allow staff to run all over you they will never become better.

Sometimes those who aren't doing their job need a suspension and allow others to get OT to cover those days. Yes it costs money for OT but I believe the rewards of having good performers out weighs the $$$