troubled

Jay-Jay, RN · Aug 23, 2002

I've never done hemodialysis, though I have several community patients who go for hemo 3x a week. I do do peritonial dialysis in the home however, and it's a cinch.

Most hemo patients have a central line, or an AV shunt somewhere, so accessing their veins for the procedure is pretty straightforward. With six week's training, everything should be pretty much "old hat" for you by the time you actually start full-time on the unit. It's just like any other procedure. Once you "know the ropes" it becomes routine, and you have the reassurance of knowing that a doctor is close at hand if anything goes wrong!

adrienurse, LPN · Aug 23, 2002

I don't know -- definately not my area of expertise. I do know that Winnipeg's Health Sciences Centre offers an extensive dialysis trainee program. Perhaps you can look to them for advice.

DHIN1000 · Mar 27, 2005

Hi everyone,
need some in-put regarding a job choice. I am a L.P.N working in canada, and I have recently been offered a position on a dialyisis unit. I need to know what to look forward to, I understand I will be starting IV'S, accessing lines and actually dializing the patient.
I must tell you, I am a little nervous, they will train me for six weeks. I do have active surgical training and I am a pretty confident nurse, just wanted some input on the subject. Any hemo nurses out there?

I have been an LPN in a hemo unit for over 2 years and love it, I am still learning, it is a challenging, rewarding job, I plan on staying with hemo until I retire. Good luck and my advice is, to just hang in there, you will feel overwhelmed and might feel like you just wont "get it" if I got it, anyone can.