A dialysis nurse is a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or registered nurse (RN) who works with patients who have kidney disease or have experienced kidney failure and require dialysis treatment. A dialysis nurse is almost always a registered nurse (RN), not a licensed practical nurse (LPN), because an RN has completed at least two years of training. He or she is CPR certified and usually also a certified nephrology nurse (CNN) or a certified dialysis nurse (CDN). This type of nurse is one of the health care providers who understands how a dialysis machine works and keeps track of the health of patients who need dialysis for kidney problems. A dialysis nurse is usually the one who draws blood from patients, changes catheter dressings, ensures that catheters are clean and free of kinks, and provides patients with information about kidney disease.
A nephrology nurse is another term for a dialysis nurse; nephrology is the study of the kidneys. Dialysis is a treatment that is often required for people who have kidney disease or have experienced kidney failure. The kidneys are involved in the filtering and cleansing of the blood, which aids in the maintenance of life. When this process does not take place naturally, it must be induced. In place of the kidneys, patients are connected to a dialysis machine, which filters and cleanses their blood. Dialysis nurses must be able to recognize when the machine isn’t working properly and request technical assistance if the problem is beyond their scope of practice.
Complications can occur because dialysis cannot clean and filter the blood as effectively or as safely as a properly functioning kidney can. A dialysis nurse is someone who is aware of these complications and can quickly recognize them when they occur so that the patient’s physician is notified. Amyloidosis, an accumulation of a protein-like substance in a body organ, is one such condition. These substances may not be removed the dialysis machine’s artificial filters, resulting in a build-up over time.
The services of a dialysis nurse are usually required to carry out instructions from a physician in the treatment of his or her patient. Although the duties of these health care providers vary greatly depending on their level of education and experience, almost all of them follow the doctor’s orders when administering medications, fluid therapy, or blood products. In contrast to a nurse who works in an emergency room, a dialysis nurse usually develops a long-term relationship with patients. The dialysis nurse can use this contact to educate patients and encourage them to follow the doctor’s diet recommendations to the letter.