Dialysis, no laughing matter

[Dormkare1]

I work for a dialysis clinic attached to a hospital. A patient is going in to have a declot on a scheduled dialysis day. I called surgery scheduling and the surgeons nurse to let them know that I only had two available times to dialyze this pt. on that particular day as the clinic is only open 3 days/week and hours are 5:45AM-6:15PM. Explained that if we could not fit her in she would not be able to receive her dialysis at our clinic. NO HELP. They could not tell me what time her surgery would be and the nurse Laughed about it!! She asked me if I was serious!! Can you believe it?! :imbar No respect between nurse "professionals" no understanding of the importance for hemodialysis or the patient's healthcare needs!!!!!

[nosonew, BSN, RN]

My job is like yours, small 3 day/week clinic. Our patients have to go 1 1/2 hours to get declotted, hospitalized, etc. However, a declot is an emergency in my opinion... :)

Glad you got it straightened out!

[jnette, ASN, EMT-I]

My job is like yours, small 3 day/week clinic. Our patients have to go 1 1/2 hours to get declotted, hospitalized, etc. However, a declot is an emergency in my opinion... :)

Glad you got it straightened out!

We, too, are small unit.. 12 stations, but six days a week as of the past two years. And we, too, have to send our patients out to the nearest "large" hospital which has a nephrologist on board and does acutes. Yes, declotting IS an emergency.. these folks HAVE to be dialyzed. :)

[Dormkare1]

Our clinic has two machines set aside at all times for acute runs or if we need to trade one out for another. These machines are cleaned,acid cleaned and heat disinfected every day and are bleach cleaned and dialysate filter tested once a week. We have one RO machine which is flushed and backwashed every day also.I do not know why our facility does not use acute pool nurses. I guess FMC can save some dollars if they don't. Not sure what their thinking is, just do what needs to be done. I agree that a declot procedure should be considered an emergency especially for high K+ and fluid overload! :)