Acute HD nurse- training for CRRT, apheresis, etc

Specialties Urology

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Specializes in Nephrology, Dialysis, Plasmapheresis.

Hello all,

I have been an acute dialysis nurse for a couple of years now and wondering how much different is CRRT/CVVH therapy? I would love the opportunity to train in these settings, but haven't yet found that chance. I've heard that apheresis is also a great sub specialty to get experience in. Can anyone give me some insight into the similarities, differences, and about how long the transition might take? Thanks!

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Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

From my experience CRRT is performed in ICU units, it is continuous therapy so the primary nurse usually sets up and runs the machine. I have done it several times on my last unit. We run a 1:1 ratio if the pt is on CRRT. From what I have seen HD nurses do not run CRRT because of how it is set up, it is not a set run time,remember it is continuous. A pt can be on it for days.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Dialysis, Plasmapheresis.
From my experience CRRT is performed in ICU units it is continuous therapy so the primary nurse usually sets up and runs the machine. I have done it several times on my last unit. We run a 1:1 ratio if the pt is on CRRT. From what I have seen HD nurses do not run CRRT because of how it is set up, it is not a set run time,remember it is continuous. A pt can be on it for days.[/quote']

At the facility I'm at now, the HD nurse comes and sets up the CRRT, and then does two daily checks that must be logged. We also bring all the supplies for the nurses and if anything goes wrong, they have to page us. It looks like it could be fairly simple to get used to if you already have dialysis experience. But I'm just wondering how many days it would take for me to get used to it?

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Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

The more you do it the easier and faster you become.. I have no HD experience except for CRRT:) The ICU nurses were trained to set up, program, run, document, calculate etc the machines.

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Specializes in Dialysis.
Hello all,

I have been an acute dialysis nurse for a couple of years now....about how long the transition might take? Thanks!

Maybe 5 minutes. Smaller kidney, slower QB/QD and a slightly different screen on the machine.

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