After being laid-off twice since graduating last year, I finally got a job offer as an Acute Care Traveling Apheresis RN (I'll cover 74 hosp in a 75-mile radius). This job sounds awesome--lots of autonomy; I won't be stuck in one place for 8+ hours, 1:1 patient contact; cutting-edge technology in a highly specialized field (which will soon boom b/c of the stem cell stuff Obama passed, thus now is a good time to get into this field before it's flooded!); opportunity to learn lots of procedures dealing with apheresis; first-hand experience with a myriad of health issues; and, exposure to many different patient populations.
However, the traveling could get old, and I HATE hospitals and having to deal with docs. Plus, it involves a lot of follow-up calls, both the night before and morning of. I'll be the "visitor"... on foreign turf.
My manager warned me to not let the RNs on the unit boss me around and have me do things other than what my purpose for my visit is: apheresis, not the unit RN's duties. (Oh, did I mention that this manager rocks?)
However, I just got an offer for an interview for a Home Healthcare Therapeutic Dialysis RN for the same company! Home health is my passion and I've been dying to get a job in home health. Same positives apply for this job, except that dialysis isn't as cutting-edge, and I won't get that "acute care exposure" that a newer grad so "desperately" needs.
Plus, if something goes wrong, I'll be all alone. At least with apheresis, I'd have the help of the unit staff. Would I get bored with dialysis? Maybe. But, I guess the same could go with apheresis.
Can anyone give me any insight on what each position encompasses, and which would provide me with the most clinical skills, knowledge base, experience, and challenges (but not too challenging, lol)? I want to make the right decision--I HAVE to. This has been a horrible year, job-wise, and I need to pick the wise career.
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May 29th, 2009 at 7:59 am
Go w/your ‘gut’ and get the most experience you can. Back up is important and you will learn a lot that you can then use in other areas. Learn your trade first. It will pay off in the long run.
Hospital experience is invaluable.(priceless!) HomeHealth will always be there. Learn your skills and you’ll be more comfortable in a less acute setting in the future if you deside to go that way later on.
June 1st, 2009 at 8:53 pm
I have been in home care for 4 years and love it. I spent 3 months in the hospital as a floor nurse. I agree the hospital is the place to build your skills, but I am functioning just fine with limited experience as a floor nurse. I am in the hospice setting now. It is very rewarding.
June 3rd, 2009 at 2:23 pm
I have a friend who works in facility dialysis and absolutely loves it. However, I know a newer grad who took this course and finds dialysis absolutely boring and now has a six month payback to the department for having been paid to take the training. I agree with the other response. Go with your gut feelings. My understanding is that dialysis can fell very routine after a while. It would not likely broaden your knowledge enough to learn all the great things that are out there for nurses to achieve. Good Luck.
June 21st, 2009 at 11:58 am
Good point! Thanks!