jackib

Hi, Sounds like you need some cooperation from the dialysis unit. Could you suggest that they have a diagram of the access that travels with the patient to and fro and that they mark on the diagram where they want the cream for the next dialysis. Our patients that use that cream just apply it at home and wrap their arm in cling wrap (that stuff you use to cover salad bowls etc to keep them fresh) - that's what we call it in OZ. Hope that helps

I work in a unit in which we rotate through acute and all chronic areas. Our main chronic unit is 12 stations and runs 2 shifts MWF and 1 shift TTS, there is also a 4 station isolation unit and a 2 station home training unit We have 2 off campus units as well which run 6 stations each. Our acute unit is 5 beds, and from here we also do "all out of the units" ie ICU CCU etc. The staffing is mainly RNs but we do have 5 Ens as well. The Ens do not go to the acute unit or the education unit. They take a pt load but are not allowed to cannulate, perform assessments, give drugs (in accordance with legislature). In the main Chronic unit we have 5 staff to 12 patients. We try to have no more than 3 patients/dialysis trained staff member. I believe that what needs to be taken into consideration when asking this question is what is the patient mix like; how many co morbid conditions do they have; how compliant are they (food, fluids medications); what sort of age group are we looking at (I must work out our average pt age again - thinking about it it has to be over 70 years); what sort of access; what is their tolerance for dialysis: how do they travel - what is the liklihood of gettting them there on time for their appointment; how much education, review and reinforcment do they need, and what about emotional support. The list is endless. Just a bit of an Australian view