Advanced Practice Nurses in Chronic Dialysis Units? Anybody else have them?

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

hi everyone. i put this in the dialysis forum because i didn't really get any feedback in the np/cns forums. i am wondering if any of you have advanced practice nurses in your units? i work for a large nephrology practice where we have 11 mds, 4 nps, 4 pas. the nps job are to do the visits (at least three per month) on every hd patient while on hd. i do not know the technical aspect of setting up the machines, but i can assess patients and am slowly learning my patients. i have been in this position since july (i'm a new apn). would anyone be willing to share what your apns do in your units? my job also entails the medical care of the patient including htn, diabetes, complications from hd (cramping, hypotension, etc). thanks for any info you can provide - i really appreciate it.

[DeLana_RN, BSN, RN]

The outpatient clinic where I worked for 5+ years did not have APNs, although I think it would be an excellent addition to the nephrology practice. In my area, 5 nephrologists cover 6 clinics; they each round on their clinic patients 3-4 times a month, but spend minimal time with each pt. They also refuse to manage comorbidities and refer the pts for most conditions to other physicians (HTN management being the only exception).

I'm curious to see if other companies/nephrology practices employ NPs.

DeLana :)

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Thanks DeLana. I work in a large (11 MD) practice. The docs visit monthly but like to handle everything so I do diabetic management, HTN, menopause care (I kid you not), etc..