What is the typical day like for a dialysis nurse?

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Specializes in acute rehab, med surg, LTC, peds, home c.

I am nurse with 16 years of different types of experience and I was wondering if dialysis would be a good move for me. I am very burnt out with acute rehab that I am doing now. I would like to do something where I dont have to run around like a nut all day, barely able to get my work done, yet I still would like to use my brain. What is your day like? How much charting is involved? Do you give alot of meds? Do you have alot of codes? How many pt do you care for at once? Are they all very cantakerous? Do you have any down time or are you running all day long? Can you leave at the end of your shift or do you still have work to finish when your shift is over. I usually end up staying until 5-5:30 when my shift ends at 3:30. It is not just me, it is all of the nurses. It is simply impossible to get out on time. The ealiest I ever left was 3:45 and that only happened once in 3.5 years.

I was just wondering if the grass was any greener in dialysis. I know I have alot of questions, any response would be appreciated.

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Specializes in Dialysis (acute & chronic).

Dialysis is busy job, with hardly any down time during your shift.

Especially when you are the only RN for 20 patients at a time!. Each clinic RN:patient ratio is different.

You have to assess the patients in before their treatments, monitor them during and assess them when they are done. In the mean time, 20 more patients are starting to come in for their treatments.

They mostly all receive some sort of IV meds during their treatments.

As for charting - pre/post assessments, med reviews, quarterly care plans, initial nursing assessments upon admission, interdisciplinary comprehensive assessments.

Codes! We try to prevent them, but they do happen and when you are the only RN there - it is all you and hopefully a pct will step into help you while you are waiting for EMS to arrive.

Dialysis patients have their "own" personalities. Remember these patients have a chronic illness and many are on dialysis because they were non compliant with their diabetes management or blood pressure control, so they continue to be "non compliant" when it comes to dialysis.

"the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence"

With this said and done " I love dialysis" and will probably retire doing it.

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Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.

Busy.

Busy.

Oh, and did I mention BUSY??? :D :D :D

If you like to keep moving on your feet, this is the job for you !!! :yeah:

Seriously.. very busy, especially at turnover. But still.. wonderful................... IF (and that's a big IF) you are working for a good, staff friendly company.

It's interesting, fascinating, and you do get very attached to your patients. :)

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As a dialysis nurse, I run around like a chicken all day, and some one calls my name about every two minutes (literally).

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