Last on, last off

[BigSteve]

As a new dialysee the only shift available in the unit was the late
shift. I was told at the initial interview I would be starting at 5:15 pm.
However they have me starting at 6:00 pm which means I am
apparently the last patient to be connected. Since I am on for
3 1/2 hours I am the last one to be taken off. The techs says this
is for their own scheduling purposes since if I start before those who
have shorter times we will finish at the same time, which makes
it hard on the techs. I haven't minded the late shift so far, but it
would be nicer to get home at 9 instead of 10. Is this worth bitching about.

[Joe Paul]

As a new dialysee the only shift available in the unit was the late
shift. I was told at the initial interview I would be starting at 5:15 pm.
However they have me starting at 6:00 pm which means I am
apparently the last patient to be connected. Since I am on for
3 1/2 hours I am the last one to be taken off. The techs says this
is for their own scheduling purposes since if I start before those who
have shorter times we will finish at the same time, which makes
it hard on the techs. I haven't minded the late shift so far, but it
would be nicer to get home at 9 instead of 10. Is this worth bitching about.

What I did was to let the charge nurse know, when something earlier comes available, put me on it.

[KICKSTART]

I would say that you would be happier to go home earlier than 10, after all this is your life , they are getting paid for being there you are not !!! Surely its enough to have to go through all this ,without just doing it to fit in with the nurses and what times they want ?

[kellyt]

I agree with Joe Paul.  One may become available soon.  Good Luck.

[okarol]

At Jenna's center they did the same - late shift - but since I had 3 younger kids at home and I was her ride, I asked for an earlier time. They couldn't assign her an earlier slot at first so we did it on a day to day basis. They had me call very early the mornings of her dialysis, speak with the charge nurse, and ask if there was an earlier slot that day. They usually had a person not show up so they would allow Jenna to come at 4:00, or whatever they had available. It was a pain to call but I think by doing that they moved her permanently to the 4:00 time just so I wouldn't bug them so much.

[boxman55]

I had the late shift to start 5pm, then I requested the morning shift 9am they had to put me on the waiting list for that slot but I did get on the afternoon shift 1pm which so far I like...as much as you can like dialysis...Boxman

[2_DallasCowboys]

My husband was on the late shift when he first
started dialysis, and it was very hard- he was
not feeling well at all at this time, and trying to
get him to eat anything when he got in so late
was difficult- he would not eat b/4 the treatment,
also.
We did the same as the other previous posters-let
the charge nurse know that if they have an earlier
open slot to call you, or maybe you can call them
to see.
also, tell them to put you in for the first available
earlier slot that opens up-the sooner you let them know,
the better.

Anne

[glitter]

my husband started on the day shift- he would go to dialysis at 8 am and get home about 12:30pm.....(4hrs) .then he would just sleep all day, and felt very washed out.
Now he goes at 5:30pm and gets home at 9:40, eats and goes to bed around 11pm.

He actually had to wait two months to get the later shift- his is the only center for 100 miles that has a later shift-

[BigSteve]

As I said I like the shift, just don't want to be the last on/last off
every time. I'll discuss this with the staff so they know I get there
early and would be glad to get on as soon as possible. I'm finding
this unit's staff is not particularly communicative. I find that I
have to drag information out of them.