Why do you love Dialysis?

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Jan 22, 2014

It is challenging, busy, interesting covers all aspects of health care.

NurseRies, BSN, RN · Jan 22, 2014

I am currently in nursing school and dialysis is something I have interest in after gaining experience as an RN. I know the negative aspects of the job. I've read it hear and well my wife has been in dialysis for over 10 years, so I get to hear the good and the bad. I understand that it is extremely stressful and the work is a lot harder than most people expect it to be....so...that being said, why do you love it? Disclaimer: I am not dead set on it, but I like the idea of having Sundays (most of them) off, holidays off, etc, because my kids/family are very important to me.[/quote']
It sounds like you want to work in a chronic unit, because acutes DEF does not have normal hours. I liked chronics because I got to know my patients really well and it felt like in some people, you really do make a difference in their lives. You are important to them and they will trust and listen to you. You will get to see a few people get a kidney transplant, which is amazing! You will never be there past 5pm, can count on reliable hours. You probably won't ever be called off due to low census, because the census is always high and consistent! You will be so busy that time will fly by during the day. You will be proficient in technical skills, which I like the hands on aspect of things. There's not a ton of time spent on the computer, most of your time will be actually running in circles with hands on care. You rarely deal with poop or vomit, you don't have to give bed baths, or change diapers. These patients are truly hilarious and inspirational. A lot of their attitudes are just so great, you can't be mad about your own life at all. I'm not saying they're all like that, some are a true pain in the butt, but I always choose to remember the positives over the negatives.

Mr Sacdiff · Jan 23, 2014

That sounds exactly like what I want. I'd only argue one point. Down here, most of the clinics are running 3rd shifts and the nurses are in the clinics until 7 or 8pm on MWF haha. But that's not a huge deal. I just like the Sunday/Holidays for now. I love the idea of getting to know the patient and their family and having a huge hand in their overall health status.

I am excited to at least look further into it.

Guttercat, ASN, RN · Jan 24, 2014

Best wishes, Jason.

I've worked in a few different specialties--and as aggravating as it can be--I keep coming back to renal. Right up there with ED, which I also loved. There will be good days, weeks, and years, and bad days, week and years. But overall, it's such neat line of work.

I yam what I yam. :)

Strawberrykool · Jan 30, 2014

Best wishes, Jason.
I've worked in a few different specialties--and as aggravating as it can be--I keep coming back to renal. Right up there with ED, which I also loved. There will be good days, weeks, and years, and bad days, week and years. But overall, it's such neat line of work.
I yam what I yam. :)

Same here I always come back to dialysis. I love sticking people!

NurseRies, BSN, RN · Jan 30, 2014

Same here I always come back to dialysis. I love sticking people!

HAHA don't tell the patients that !! Vampire!!

westieluv · Jan 31, 2014

I have been an RN for over twenty years and I have finally found my forever home in chronic dialysis! I have been a floor nurse in Med/Surg and ICU, an LTC nurse, and a hospice nurse at varying times over the years. I've had jobs where I've been on my feet for twelve hours and jobs where I sat at a desk.

I started in dialysis in acutes but found the erratic hours and on-call commitment to be a poor fit. I transitioned to chronics and as far as I'm concerned, I will do this until I retire.

I love the regular hours, never having to work on Sunday except for at Thanksgiving and Christmas, the daily routine (I am a very organized person who thrives on routine and does NOT do well flying by the seat of my pants as in acute dialysis), and the pace, even during turnover when it can get a little hectic. But most of all, I LOVE my patients! I have become so attached to my beautiful chronic dialysis patients and I feel, more than any other time in my nursing career except maybe when I was an on-call hospice nurse, that I am actually making a difference in people's lives and easing their burdens a little. When I worked as a floor nurse, so many of my colleagues hated taking care of chronic dialysis patients when they were hospitalized and had such disdain for those patients and dialysis in general. But here's the problem with that: those patients are people too, and they have way more challenges than most of us will ever have to deal with. They can be difficult but they need love, compassion, and understanding, and most of all, they need to be treated with dignity and respect. Even the angriest, most noncompliant renal patient is a human being and should be treated as such. If those of us who find a way to love this patient population end up in dialysis then we never want to leave! :)

Mr Sacdiff · Jan 31, 2014

I have been an RN for over twenty years and I have finally found my forever home in chronic dialysis! I have been a floor nurse in Med/Surg and ICU, an LTC nurse, and a hospice nurse at varying times over the years. I've had jobs where I've been on my feet for twelve hours and jobs where I sat at a desk.
I started in dialysis in acutes but found the erratic hours and on-call commitment to be a poor fit. I transitioned to chronics and as far as I'm concerned, I will do this until I retire.
I love the regular hours, never having to work on Sunday except for at Thanksgiving and Christmas, the daily routine (I am a very organized person who thrives on routine and does NOT do well flying by the seat of my pants as in acute dialysis), and the pace, even during turnover when it can get a little hectic. But most of all, I LOVE my patients! I have become so attached to my beautiful chronic dialysis patients and I feel, more than any other time in my nursing career except maybe when I was an on-call hospice nurse, that I am actually making a difference in people's lives and easing their burdens a little. When I worked as a floor nurse, so many of my colleagues hated taking care of chronic dialysis patients when they were hospitalized and had such disdain for those patients and dialysis in general. But here's the problem with that: those patients are people too, and they have way more challenges than most of us will ever have to deal with. They can be difficult but they need love, compassion, and understanding, and most of all, they need to be treated with dignity and respect. Even the angriest, most noncompliant renal patient is a human being and should be treated as such. If those of us who find a way to love this patient population end up in dialysis then we never want to leave! :)

Thank you so much! This is exactly what I wanted to hear. This is the image I get when I picture doing dialysis. I will admit, it is sometimes difficult dealing with hospitalized dialysis patients (as a CNA), because they are a bit cranky, but I completely understand and have much empathy for them. I am told by my wife that they are spoiled in the dialysis center because they are family there! haha.

I am almost dead set on at least trying dialysis. I hope it's a good fit for me too! Thanks again!

PomPomRN · Jan 31, 2014

I'm seriously trying to like it. I am finding it hard to stay positive in a negative place. The people I work with generally do not like where they are and have no trouble talking badly about each other and our bosses on a daily basis. They complain about their hours, complain about the patients, and when it starts getting close to the end third shift they start getting downright miserable and making no bones about telling you to get "DONE" so they can "Get Out Of Here!" They have no problem with telling anyone and everyone that they are looking for jobs elsewhere and how much they "Hate" their jobs since the clinic got a new FA.

It's sad really, no one wants to be around negativity all the time. I've only been doing this a little less than 2 months.

So I basically do anything and everything I can to help out and get through the day.

Hoping it will get better in time or maybe I will look for a new location cause I don't dislike the job, just the atmosphere of the clinic I'm in.

NurseRies, BSN, RN · Feb 1, 2014

Maybe you can begin to make the change in this

Clinic. All it takes is one strong, positive individual, who is willing to hang in there and tough it out. Better times are certainly ahead. If you like the job and the specialty, don't let these negative, burnt out, miserable people make you quit. Those patients need someone to take a stand. Can you imagine being one of those people? Someone is putting you on the machine while complaining about their boss and talking gossip?

Stay strong! Give it your all, and don't let them suck the life out of you. If anything, do it for the patients. Be the single ray of sunshine in their day. Maybe the only pleasant or friendly staff member they encounter. This is truly a chance to make a difference in their lives... What we all strive for as nurses- to make a difference.

Mr Sacdiff · Feb 4, 2014

I'm seriously trying to like it. I am finding it hard to stay positive in a negative place. The people I work with generally do not like where they are and have no trouble talking badly about each other and our bosses on a daily basis. They complain about their hours, complain about the patients, and when it starts getting close to the end third shift they start getting downright miserable and making no bones about telling you to get "DONE" so they can "Get Out Of Here!" They have no problem with telling anyone and everyone that they are looking for jobs elsewhere and how much they "Hate" their jobs since the clinic got a new FA.
It's sad really, no one wants to be around negativity all the time. I've only been doing this a little less than 2 months.
So I basically do anything and everything I can to help out and get through the day.
Hoping it will get better in time or maybe I will look for a new location cause I don't dislike the job, just the atmosphere of the clinic I'm in.

From talking to my wife and other dialysis nurses that I've worked with, this sounds like a crappy clinic. Hopefully for your sake those negative people will move on or maybe you have another one nearby that you can switch to. Sorry to hear this though.