Dialysis nurse

HD is the most common method used to treat advanced and permanent kidney failure. Clinically, it is considered the default therapy that is utilized in the increasing numbers of patients unsuitable for other modalities of PD and kidney transplantation. Operationally, it involves connecting the patient to a hemodialyzer into which their blood flows. After filtration to remove the wastes and extra fluids, the cleansed blood is returned to the patient. It is stfll a complicated and inconvenient therapy requiring a coordinated effort from a healthcare team that includes the patient, nephrologist, dialysis nurse, dialysis technician, dietitian, and others. 

There are only a few available case reports of bronchial asthma suggestive of respiratory tract sensitization to formaldehyde gas including two renal dialysis nurses (Hendrick and Lane 1975, 1977 ... 

Cannulation of the VA requires a high level of awareness, specific knowledge and skills of the dialysis nurse. 

Due to the ongoing contact with patients, dialysis nurses play a pivotal role in the education of (pre-)dialysis patients and their family on all aspects of VA care such as VA types, vein protection for future fistula construction, the risk of adverse events with catheters, monitoring and surveillance, and complications. Patient education should be multidisciplinary and tailored to the needs of the patient with the aim of optimizing patient involvement in their own care. Because patients differ in their learning style, a variety of educations materials should be available, in combination with individual conversations, and access to expert patients. 

Many of the cannulation-related problems can be prevented with proper cannulation techniques. Therefore, it is important that only an experienced dialysis nurse with excellent cannulation skills cannulates newly matured fistulas. Every... 

The BH is not just a variation on the RL, but is an entirely different way of performing cannulation and requires different attitudes and skills of the dialysis nurse. Several studies have compared the cannulation of the BH versus the RL technique and showed potential benefits of the BH with reduced risk of access-related complications such as needle infiltration and subsequent hematoma formation, aneurysm formation, and cosmetic appearance, cannulation ease and less pain. 

For all vascular accesses, aseptic technique with sterile gloves and face masks for the patient and the nurse should be used for all cannulation procedures. The dialysis nurses cleanse the skin by facility-approved antimicrobial preparation [14]. 

With guidance from the dialysis nurse, the needles are withdrawn first from the venous and then the arterial puncture sites. Prolonged bleeding from puncture sites is highly suspicious for draining vein stenosis, and the patient should be referred to vascular access surgeon. 

The dialysis nurse informs Michelle that her side effects are due to her body s inability to regulate the amount of water in her cells. She explains that the amount of water is regulated by the concentration of electrolytes in her body fluids and the rate at which waste products are removed from her body. Amanda explains that although water is essential for the many chemical reactions that occur in the body, the amount of water can become too high or too low, due to various diseases and conditions. 

A dialysis nurse specializes in assisting patients with kidney disease undergoing dialysis. This requires monitoring the patient before, during, and after dialysis for any complications such as a drop in blood pressure or cramping. The dialysis nurse connects the patient to the dialysis unit via a dialysis catheter that is inserted into the neck or chest, which must be kept clean to prevent infection. A dialysis nurse must have considerable knowledge about how the dialysis machine functions to ensure that it is operating correctly at all times. 

New Chapter Opener describes the work and career of a dialysis nurse. 

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