Acute HD units also doing PD

[Katdama]

How common is it for Acute HD units to also do PD for pts in hospital? I've heard it is common place for hospital staff's to be trained and take care of PD pts., but I do not know that for fact. Our local PD dept. used to do all the PD when their pts. were in the hospital. I'm sure our unit is no different than most. It is a full time job just taking care of hemodialysis. But as far as call back is concerned, I probably get called back just as much for PD in the middle of the night and on Sundays. We are trying to get this changed. Is this common place or do we not have an argument?

[blarn]

I believe it is pretty common. This is what the acute programs do in my area. Often the patients primary nurse can do some trouble shooting by calling the 1800 number on the machine and most patients know how to operate the cycler on their own.

[Chisca, RN]

Common. Our unit is trying to cross train all the hemo nurses to perform PD because we are seeing more patients who have chosen this therapy. No on call for PD at this point but the hemo on call is brutal enough. I like dialysis, no matter what the mode, but the on call expectations of some units gaurantee a high turnover in staff.