What to know more about renal RN

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in "Wound care - geriatric care.

Will have an interview next week for Med Surg. Renal. I take care of dialysis pt in a SNF but that's about it. Can anyone tell me more about renal RN routines and tasks? Any advice? What to look for what to start knowing and learning about? Can anyone send me links of websites covering renal for beginners?

Thank you

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
LMGTFY
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Specializes in retired LTC.

It's been quite some time that I last worked hospital. And in LTC, my experiences were limited to just caring for pts with renal issues or were dialysis.

But the one thing I learned waaaay back then that continued into my LTC career was that I believed that ESRD/ renal pts didn't die of ESRD, they died of everything else. Cardiac, respiratory, DM, CVAs, sepsis, hematology/immunocompetency, vascular problems, etc that was what caused them the problems that were most problematic and eventually killed them.

Renal dialysis? That was just hooking them up to the machine and dialyzing them at the center! That's why neither rain, nor snow or gloom of night keeps the dialysis pt from going out to dialysis for their appt! Honestly, whatever was going on with the pts, out they went to dialysis.

Seriously, I AM NOT minimizing this nsg specialty. I truly find renal disease the most interesting and profoundly all encompassing disease process to happen. Regardless of age, sex, SES, ethnicity, etc, it influences every other system. And it's the silent killer! I accord RD the utmost respect.

So that's my take on renal disease. Sorry, I can't help you with more detailed job oriented info except for my perspective.

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