Has anyone worked for a dialysis company?
Question:
Thanks!
Answers:
I have worked for Fresenius Medical Care for the past 2 years. Here's the best I can come up with, and this is all according to my experience:
Pros:
-Better pay than a CNA,
-no work on Sundays (except you might work on Sunday so that the clinic can be closed on Thanksgiving or Christmas),
-you can cannulate patients,
-you work with central venous catheters,
-you have more autonomy in your decision making and your treatment of patients,
-you don't have graveyard shifts,
-you work with the same patients who you get to know very well (this can be a con as well),
-you don't have to do clean up patients (I've only had to help patients in the bathroom 4 times in 2 years),
-you have slow times during your shift when you can relax a little,
-most of your patients are very nice and appreciative,
-you get to go to conferences and other meetings for your continuing education.
Cons:
-Early hours (this isn't true of all facilities, but for most in our area the techs have to start at 5am),
-you are working with blood (I've seen a few trainees drop out of training because they couldn't stand the sight of blood. Go figure),
-you are still underpaid for the work you do,
-the certification is more difficult and the licensing is more expensive than a CNA,
-you are focused on a small population of patients - those with kidney failure (although nearly all patients have other problems),
-you have really busy times during your shift when you have a limited amount of time to start each patient's treatment,
-you deal with some very bitter, angry patients.
I think dialysis is one of the best places to start your medical career. I've found it very rewarding, and it has given me a good idea about whether to go into nursing or not (I will be). Fresenius is also going to pay for my nursing school (very cool). Remember that some of the pro's and con's listed are simply based on my experience and may not reflect the dialysis market in your area. Good luck!
no
Im sure it will be an excellent learning curve, Dialysis is a complex procedure and and the people recieving it are not able to cope without it Im sure that if you accept the offer you will find it very rewarding.
good luck!
More Questions & Answers...