Renal/nephrology/hypertension APNs - question? Thanks in advance...

NephroBSN, BSN, RN · Mar 28, 2006

Okay, I graduate in May and have been interviewing recently. Tomorrow I'm interviewing in a large renal/nephrology/hypertension practice for an APN to go to different dialysis sites in the area to see patients as well as to see office patients. Is anyone familiar with this concept in renal nursing? Any ideas of general duties? Any special questions I should ask? I should state right up front that I have NEVER even seen dialysis done - my specialty is ER which I love. However, in this area, there are no jobs available in any ERs. Thanks in advance for any assistance.

In the dialysis unit you will be managing a group of patients. If the unit is small you might be managing the total population.

Patients are dialyzed either MWF or TTHSAT.. If the unit is new and just starting out they may only have a MWF shift of patients. Some units have a nocturnal population also.

You would be making rounds in the dialysis unit. You would be reviewing labs, and adjusting meds, EPO VENOFER ZEMPLAR and patient's KT/V for dialysis adequacy. ESRD is the only chronic illness in the US totally funded by Medicare so you have some parameters fo this endeavour.

You will also be prescribing antibiotics for patients, assessing the need for fistulagrams and catheter replacement.

As for the office you would be treating CKD and trying to avoid dialysis.

MY DREAM JOB.. Hope you get it and like it.

PM me if you need more info. I have to eat and get to work..

SharonH, RN · Mar 29, 2006

No advice trauma, I just want to congratulate you. I graduate in 38 days (I beat you!) but I am not even looking for a job just yet although my preceptor at my current clinical has asked me to apply at her hospital. I am just too tired and overwhelmed in these last days to even consider taking on a new role. Good luck to you in your interview!

Trauma Columnist · Mar 30, 2006

NephroBSN - thanks so much for the help. The interview went well but its not in my salary range. However, I am going to shadow an NP who does the job I would be doing. The idea is that Medicare allows for four visits/month with one being an MD and the other three being from an APN. I would handle patients at four different sites and travel among them. Will see how it goes...thanks.

SharonH - congrats! Any ideas what you are going to do? I also applied at the current hospital where I work for a ventilator weaning APN position. It would be nice not to have to leave the hospital because I have 10 yrs invested, but we'll see.

Thanks to both of you - I really appreciate it.

NephroBSN, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2006

NephroBSN - thanks so much for the help. The interview went well but its not in my salary range. However, I am going to shadow an NP who does the job I would be doing. The idea is that Medicare allows for four visits/month with one being an MD and the other three being from an APN. I would handle patients at four different sites and travel among them. Will see how it goes...thanks.
SharonH - congrats! Any ideas what you are going to do? I also applied at the current hospital where I work for a ventilator weaning APN position. It would be nice not to have to leave the hospital because I have 10 yrs invested, but we'll see.
Thanks to both of you - I really appreciate it.

Hope you have a great day shadowing. I've known clinics where I've never seen the MD for the whole month.. Somehow they get "away" with it. Not advocating that at all. I just like the nursing touch an NP brings to the mix and if you are in a state with prescribing priviledges all the better.

Go with your heart. That's the only way to go.. Good luck.

Trauma Columnist · Mar 30, 2006

Thanks again. My main issue is that I owe the hospital where I work either 24 months of time or $9100 for tuition waivers. This practice doesn't "buy out" APNs as some of the others do so am not sure I can do this. However, I don't want to rule out anything, so will go shadow an APN and see what they do.