Dialysis Nurse shortage

[cougarnurse]

Good article for those in Dialysis: STRETCHING A LIFELINE
The number of nurses in Dialysis are shrinking, and the number of patients are up....



'Cat'

[TomB]

Wow cougarnurse, that was a great article.

I'm currently working per diem at a chronic dialysis center here in Florida. The learning curve is incredibly steep. I thought it would be relatively easy for me to work dialysis since I have several years for critical care experience. I was SO wrong.

Dialysis nursing is so completely different than "regular" nursing. I don't have much experience, so I always work with at least one experienced dialysis nurse. This is just a temporary job for me while I'm on a FMLA leave from my regular job in Indiana. My primary role is passing meds during treatments.

Technicians do most of the "hands-on" work, i.e., putting patients on the machines then taking them off. I have a lot of respect for the techs, they work very hard. Not only do they have to be good at what they do, they have to do it FAST. They have an incredible amount of responsibility. Mistakes can be deadly.

With diabetes on the rise there's going to be an even larger need for experienced dialysis nurses. I believe that it's one of those love it or hate it kind of specialties. Dialysis centers are screaming for experienced people. If you are experienced, you can work ANYWHERE in the country.

[ENARN2006]

OK - sign me up.... I'm game for being trained as a dialysis nurse - only problem is ALL of the local companies near me (just outside of Tampa) are ONLY looking for experienced dialysis nurses... Well - if no one's willing to train me then why are they complaining about a DN shortage???

[TomB]

Maybe they have no openings at those particular centers. Keep looking. The turn-over rate is very high.

[paxmaster]

Is Dialysis Nursing as well respected as some other areas of nursing?