student nurse has a question

[mia]

Hi, I was wondering if any of you could answer a question for me. I am a student nurse who will graduate in December. I am really interested in Hemodialysis. I am also interested in eventually becoming a Certified Diabetes Educator. From what I understand, to get the certification one must provide a certain number of hours of patient diabetes education. Can you do this in Hemodialysis? I know that a large population of patients are on dialysis as a result of diabetes. I was just wondering if I could prepare for my CDE while working as a dialysis nurse. I have tried to contact the American Diabetes Association for a answer but they were very vague. Can anyone provide me with an answer or refer me to a source that could?

Thank you so much for your time!!

Mia:)

[annies]

Hi Mia,

Have you contacted The National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators? Try http://www.ncbde.org.

Hope this helps,

Annie

[RNPAULIE]

if i may make a suggestion, i have worked on a renal floor for fourteen years--i am a new grad but worked as a nursing assistant. if you are interested in dialysis the best place to get the experience would be on a renal floor in a hospital. renal patients usually have multi system problems and tend to be an unstable lot. i think it would be a bit much for a new grad to take on that responsibility. they can crash during hemo very easily!!!!!! just a little bit of advice:D

[misti_z]

I agree with RNPaulie. I work on a renal floor as well, there is a new grad who recently started in our HD unit and honestly she hates it as a new grad. She is trying very hard to be transfered to our floor.

Start out on the floor, sharpen your assessment skills and then transfer if you still desire.