PD Nurse

Pro is patient teaching and relationships with the patients is very rewarding

Con for me when I was working Pediatrics CAPD CCPD in 1990 which was a long time ago- we had frequent on call back to the hospital for machine problems

Pd nurse, sometimes referred to as a home therapy nurse. There will be home visits and some travel involved. CMS requires home visits. When I started many years ago, there were no home visits, then none became one per year and last I heard I was instructed to do 3/year. There is also an on call rotation. PD nurses do not have much ancillary support and work independently so you will be responsible for patient care and the management of your department in the smaller clinics. This means you will be the anemia manager, be asked to do options for patient recruitment, be accountable for compliance with documentation for ESRD inspections. You will be the anemia manager and trainer for your patients. You are also a case manager for your patients. You have to assess and assist patient's with resolution of problems to help keep them on the therapy. Patient's run out of supplies, or don't do prescribed treatments and run into problem. A lot depends on your work support system, meaning the management, social workers, dietitians. If they support you with achieving outcomes, the work is easier. However, I have worked in some areas, where this is not the case and the job can be very stressful related to patient compliance. I grew weary of having the physicians and company blame me for non-compliance, or patient's failing to meet CMS guidelines related to non-compliance.