New to renal

[NurseKitKat]

Hello! I've been a school nurse for my entire nursing career and now I'm moving into the hospital. I'll be working on a renal unit....does any one have any pointers for me? Very excited & very nervous!

[Twinmom06, ASN, APN]

1. Do not be alarmed by high creatinine levels in dialysis patients. They generally live with a creatinine of 3+

2. No Pee no K (meaning if a dialysis patient is anuric, please don't let your residents order K riders)...never fails a dialysis patient has labs post HD and the residents lose their minds over a K of >3.5 and start ordering K riders. Please keep them from killing my patients.

3. Please try to help the patients maintain their fluid restriction.

4. If they are hypoglycemic, Apple or cranberry juice is a better choice than orange because of the potassium.

[NurseKitKat]

Thanks so much Twinmom06!

[momto5RN]

Hello!!!! Love seeing this post....i am a former school nurse as well! I resigned from my school nurse job in June after working two school years. I started outpatient dialysis right before Halloween. Still on orientation and will be until about the middle of January. Not much advice to give since I'm new at this but I'll tell you what the nurses always say to me on the floor. Love the machine. Get to know how that machine works. Wishing you the best!

[NurseKitKat]

Thanks momto5RN, good luck to you as well :)

[lvnforschool]

Hello,

I too have been working at a school in Health office last 5 school years. I am meeting on Saturday to interview for a LVN dialysis position. Im very nervous but also excited to be doing something else. I have set this office up at the school to run like a machine, and I am not worried about leaving it. I am basically starting over from scratch learning about renal/kidney issues and dialysis. Good luck to everyone

[Chisca, RN]

Despite what a patient may argue ice IS water.

[AlabamaBelle]

Like Chisca said, renal patients are truly surprised when you remind them that when ice melts, it's water! Who knew?