You know you are a dialysis nurse when

Published

Specializes in Dialysis, Emergency.

I think this will be really cool! I'm going to start it off with a few...please join in!

You know you are a dialysis nurse when:

1. you hear a machine alarm going off and wonder why your patient is coming off so early only to realize it is your alarm clock waking you!

2. you have a calus on your thumb from drawing up so much heparin, zemp, epo, etc.

3. you have a heat stroke from having on so much PPE.

Let's have some fun! Keep it going!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hemodialysis; Peritoneal Dialysis.

OMG that is hilarious about the thinking its an alarm. Sometime when I'm at home, sitting all alone by myself, I'll turn around because I think I hear an alarm!!

You know you are a hemodialysis nurse when....you give dirty looks to your family members when they gulp down huge glasses of fluid...then realize they can still pee...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in hemo and peritoneal dialysis.

Or when you meet one of your patients in the check out line and start feeling his/her arm saying with a wink, " Nice thrill." Meanwhile, the other customers start begin to slowly back away from you. :kiss

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Dialysis, geri,.

This may sound really stupid but I have a 3 year old daughter who still likes for me to take her to potty and when she is sitting there and I start hearing her pee it makes me smile. Just knowing that there are little babies out there that have to have dialysis makes my heart cry so when my daughter pees it makes me feel all nice and warm inside :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Renal/Hemodialysis.

totally agree!

During my first weeks in the HD unit, I would be so alarmed to hear a beep even outside the unit. I don't know if that was a dream or I was hallucinating because I saw a bottle of saline hanging on my window of our house during those first weeks. Damn!

You know you are a dialysis nurse when you've become so conscious in starting a peripheral IV line on your patients thinking you might go through the vein because you're so used to inserting them on bigger blood vessels.

...when you are not shocked knowing a person gained 10kgs within 3 days.

...you've become so conscious with your diet, and has included a check of serum creatinine on your regular lab tests.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Renal/Hemodialysis.

ok what I mean was "we were so used in inserting needles for hemodialysis use on bigger blood vessels" and not inserting IV cannulas on AVF/Gs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hemodialysis; Peritoneal Dialysis.

Dody,

I know exactly what you mean. I got a PRN job at a hospital and I have to remember to take the needles out! Only leave them in when working HD! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion