Concerned about Home Hemo

Although not done in this area where I worked in a clinic for 5 years, home HD has been around for quite some time, although not with the NxStage system (which should actually be easier to use than regular machines!) From what I read on dialysis boards, patients absolutely love the freedom that it gives them and they also feel better than with 3 times/wk clinic dialysis. If you think about it, it requires less time than PD, but is of course more complex. However, the pts who do it don't seem to have any problems with it (from what I read).

As for your nursing license, I don't see how that could be threatened if you followed P&P and documented your teaching and the pt's demonstration. I am, I have to say, surprised that they let catheter pts do home hemo, but I was also surprised when my outpt company first allowed UAPs (PCTs) to access catheters; all the company had to do was document their training, and I never worried about my license because of it (personally, I think it's wrong to let PCTs access central lines - which we know would never happen in a hospital setting - it's all about saving $...)

Anyway, I don't think you need to worry about your liability regarding your NxStage pts.

DeLana

P.S. Also check out the Dialysis/Urology specialty forum on this site.