You became a nurse to make a difference in people’s lives. You’ve recently considered looking for different travel dialysis nurse jobs so that you can not only make a difference in other’s lives but in your life as well.
But what does being a dialysis nurse really mean? How do you know if it is the right choice for you?
Making any career change can be intimidating, especially if you’re unsure of what you’re getting into.
We understand how stressful these choices are, which is why we’ve created this guide covering some of the most important things to consider when looking for dialysis travel jobs for nurses.
Keep reading to learn more about what the job entails, how to become a travel dialysis nurse, and tips to help you decide whether dialysis nursing is a good fit for you.
Table of Contents
- What Is a Dialysis Travel Nurse?
- How to Become a Dialysis Travel Nurse
- How High Is the Demand for Travel Dialysis RN Jobs?
- Where Do Dialysis Travel Nurses Usually Work?
- How Much Do Dialysis Travel Nurses Make?
- How Do You Know if Becoming a Dialysis Travel Nurse Is the Right Path For You? The Pros and Cons of Dialysis Travel Jobs
- Are You a Nurse Interested in Finding Dialysis Travel Jobs? Trusted Nurse Staffing Can Help
What Is a Dialysis Travel Nurse?
Dialysis nurses (also known as renal nurses or nephrology nurses) care for patients dealing with acute or chronic kidney failure. When a patient is suffering from kidney failure, they need an alternative way for blood to be cleaned and filtered in the body.
Dialysis travel nurses may work with patients who might need one of two different types of dialysis:
- Hemodialysis — hemodialysis nurses working with patients who are going through hemodialysis assist with dialysis treatments that involve using an external dialysis machine that diverts the patient’s blood into the machine, where it is filtered, and then returns clean blood back into the patient’s body.
- Perinatal dialysis — this type of dialysis is a daily treatment that requires patients to have an abdominal catheter permanently attached to their body. The catheter is used to:
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- Pump dialysis fluid into a space inside the patient’s stomach; and
- Filter the patient’s blood.
Dialysis travel nurses working with perinatal dialysis patients assist and train the patient to care for their catheter safely and correctly.
What Does a Dialysis Travel Nurse Do?
Dialysis nurses’ main responsibilities involve monitoring patients throughout their treatment, as well as assessing and caring for patients on a day-to-day basis.
Some of a dialysis travel nurse’s responsibilities include:
- Assessing patients’ needs
- Preparing dialysis machines and patient medications
- Monitoring patients throughout their entire treatment
- Educating patients to help them understand their health issues, and learn how to care for themselves throughout treatment; and
- Providing comfort care and emotional support to dialysis patients.
How to Become a Dialysis Travel Nurse
Dialysis travel nurses usually have a bachelor’s degree in nursing, although it isn’t uncommon for some to have a master’s degree; but an associate’s degree is generally all that is required to become a dialysis nurse.
After you’ve passed the National Council Licensure Examination to become a registered nurse, if dialysis travel nursing jobs are something that interests you, start looking for jobs in the nephrology field.
Your next step would be to become certified in dialysis through the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission, but the commission requires at least one year of experience in nephrology nursing.
Dialysis travel jobs often also require nurses to have relevant experience in the field, preferably at least two years of experience in nephrology. So, if you’re new to the field, it is a great idea to get started as a staff dialysis nurse and then pursue dialysis travel jobs.
Once you’ve acquired the required certifications, licenses, and work experience, you are eligible to start working dialysis travel jobs as a nurse!
The next step? Find the best travel nursing company looking for dialysis nurses. There are dozens of options available to you, so you must find a travel nursing agency that provides for your unique needs.
When speaking with travel nursing agencies, discuss factors like:
- Housing allowances
- Benefits
- Salary
- Any policies regarding hours, vacation, nursing destinations, etc.
At Trusted Nurse Staffing, we believe in providing our nurses with the best, which is why we offer our dialysis travel nurses an extensive list of benefits including:
- The highest pay in the industry
- Flexible contracts
- Tailored to your health and wellness benefits packages
- Sign-on and completion bonuses
- And more
How High Is the Demand for Travel Dialysis RN Jobs?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for dialysis nurses is going to continue to grow at 26% over the next decade — meaning finding a job as a travel dialysis RN will not be a difficult feat.
As the population increases to age, and due to increasing non-communicable diseases continues to rise, so will the cases of chronic kidney disease which is why travel dialysis RN jobs will constantly be available.
Where Do Dialysis Travel Nurses Usually Work?
Dialysis travel nurses typically work in a variety of settings, but generally, dialysis travel jobs can be found in locations like:
- Home health settings
- Hospitals
- Dialysis clinics
- Acute care/ICU departments; and
- Outpatient clinics
As a dialysis nurse, you will be needed in just about any healthcare setting, which is one of the many benefits of having a dialysis travel job.
You have the flexibility to work in the setting you truly thrive in.
Dialysis Clinics
Dialysis nurses working in a dialysis clinic typically meet with patients throughout the week, usually regularly, offering hemodialysis or peritoneal treatments and monitoring patients’ vitals and reactions during treatment.
Acute Care/ICU Departments
When patients are dealing with extreme or chronic kidney failure, and need treatment fast, dialysis nurses are responsible for administering emergency dialysis treatments or other kidney treatments as necessary.
Home Health
It isn’t uncommon for dialysis travel nurses to work with patients in their own homes simply because of the numerous treatments that many dialysis patients need regularly.
This requires you to:
- Administer dialysis treatments.
- Check and record vitals.
- Keep the patients’ primary care physician and healthcare facility up to date on their needs and condition.
How Much Do Dialysis Travel Nurses Make?
According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for Dialysis travel nurses ranges between $83,000 to $96,000 annually. The pay scale varies greatly based on:
- Location
- Contract length; and
- Experience as a dialysis nurse
How Do You Know if Becoming a Dialysis Travel Nurse Is the Right Path For You? The Pros and Cons of Dialysis Travel Jobs
As a nurse, you know that there are many different areas of the medical field that you can get started in. Dialysis nursing offers a range of benefits, but it isn’t necessarily the right field for everyone.
This is why we want to share with you some of the pros and cons of working as a dialysis travel nurse, to help you decide if a specific type of travel nursing assignment is right for you.
3 Signs Dialysis Travel Nursing Could be the Best Choice for You
#1: Dialysis Nursing Helps You Build Connections and Feel Fulfilled
Becoming a dialysis travel nurse comes with a host of benefits, especially if you are someone who likes building connections with patients. Dialysis nurses often work on a fixed schedule, based on their patients’ needs, so you’ll see your patients very frequently.
This fact alone makes becoming a dialysis travel nurse a dream for some — it allows you to have a direct impact on your patients’ lives.
#2: Dialysis Nurses Help Patients Feel Their Best
One of the advantages of being a dialysis nurse is that you can restore your patients to a healthier state and make them feel so much better by cleaning their blood for them. That has to be a great feeling helping your patients.
#3: Dialysis Travel Jobs Offer A More Flexible Work-Life Balance
As a dialysis travel nurse, you can expect to have a reasonable amount of flexibility when it comes to your schedule. Although 12+ shifts can set you up for long days, but also for extended periods off without having to use any vacation time.
For some, shorter workweeks are a major benefit to being a dialysis travel nurse.
Top 2 Signs Dialysis Travel Nursing May Not be a Good Fit for You
#1: You’re Uncomfortable Working With Extremely Sick Patients
Working as a dialysis travel nurse, you’ll work with patients as they await kidney transplants.
Although many nurses gain a sense of fulfillment when building relationships with these patients, they also have to cope with the loss of a relationship when some of those patients don’t receive a transplant in time.
Part of being a good fit for dialysis nursing is being able to stay compassionate, but continuing to press forward after losing a patient you’ve built a deep connection with.
After all, every one of your patients are counting on you to help them through their treatment.
#2: Experience Is Considered Essential
Dialysis travel nurses are expected to know what you are doing at all times.
Many dialysis nurses are the only people in their facility that know anything about the treatment — meaning no one is there to bounce ideas off of if you get stuck in a bind, or to help you in tough situations.
If you are someone with little experience as a dialysis nurse, becoming a travel nurse might be something you consider putting off until you build up enough experience that you feel confident working with patients one-on-one.
#3: On-Call Hours Are Generally a Must
Many acute dialysis travel nurse jobs require nurses to have a certain amount of on-call hours during their weekly schedule. Dialysis patients’ needs are ever-changing, and someone has to be available to help at any moment.
For many nurses, this is a deal-breaker — they want to be off the clock as soon as their regular workday is done.
This may be one of the reasons why acute dialysis departments have such a high turnover rate.
If you are someone who likes a set schedule, without risking being called to work at any hour, dialysis travel nursing might not be the right fit for you.
Are You a Nurse Interested in Finding Dialysis Travel Jobs? Trusted Nurse Staffing Can Help
Whether you already have the experience you need to become a dialysis travel nurse, or you’re researching different travel nurse positions and came across the high demand for dialysis nurses,
Trusted Nurse Staffing can help you make decisions based on your best interests as a travel nurse.
When you choose to work with Trusted Staff nursing, you’re putting your career in the best hands. We strive to create an atmosphere that leaves our nurses feeling valued and fulfilled. With us, you’re not just a number we call — you’re a hero.
We’re dedicated to using your expertise, and ours, to navigate the intricacies of travel nursing and finding the best career path for your unique needs.