What’s a dialysis nurse?

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A dialysis nurse is a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or registered nurse (RN) who specializes in working with patients with kidney disease or kidney failure who must undergo a treatment known as dialysis. In the overwhelming majority of cases, a dialysis nurse is an RN, not an LPN, because an RN has completed at least two years of training. He or she is certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and is usually a certified nephrology nurse (CNN) or a certified dialysis nurse (CDN). This type of nurse is among the healthcare professionals who understand how a dialysis machine operates and who monitor the health of patients with kidney problems who must undergo dialysis. It is usually a dialysis nurse who draws blood from a patient, changes catheter dressings, ensures catheters are clean and free of kinks, and is a source of information about kidney disease for patients.

Another term used to refer to a dialysis nurse is a nephrology nurse; nephrology is the study of the kidneys. People with kidney disease or who have suffered from kidney failure often need to undergo a treatment known as dialysis. The kidneys are involved in the process of filtering and cleaning the blood, which helps maintain life. When this process does not occur naturally, it must occur artificially. Patients are hooked up to a dialysis machine that handles the filtration and cleaning of the blood instead of the kidneys. The dialysis nurse must have sufficient knowledge to detect when the machine is not working correctly in order to request technical assistance if the problem is beyond their scope of practice.

Because dialysis cannot clean and filter the blood as efficiently or safely as possible like a properly functioning kidney, complications can arise. A dialysis nurse is someone who is aware of these complications and who can quickly identify them when they may be occurring in order to notify the patient’s physician. One such condition is known as amyloidosis, a buildup of a protein-like substance in an organ of the body. These substances may not be removed through the artificial filters in the dialysis machine, leading to a build-up over time.

A doctor’s instructions to be carried out in the treatment of his patient usually involve the services of a dialysis nurse. Although the duties of these health care providers can vary greatly depending on their level of education and experience, nearly all administer medications and fluid therapy or blood products in accordance with physician orders. A dialysis nurse often develops a long-term relationship with patients, rather than a nurse working in the emergency room. This contact allows the dialysis nurse to play a fundamental role in educating patients and encouraging them to fully comply with the diet prescribed by the doctor.

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