What should EVERY nurse know about Dialysis

[Twink]

I am a dialysis nurse turned home care nurse...live in a rural area that recently has had a dialysis center open (I work there PRN). With this opening the local home care agency has seen an influx of dialysis patients...and due to conflicts of interest I can not be their primary home care nurse. I am planning an in-service focusing on basic need to know info on dialysis patients and care needs. So I ask you, the dialysis nurse....what do YOU wish EVERY nurse knew about the dialysis patient?

[Tindaya]

That's really sad... In Europe doesn't matter the money you got, you are a candidate to have a organ transplant if you need it... Public Health system pay for the anti rejection meds, and for all the Hospital Care. I am a nurse working in the NHS, in England, my husband is from FL and we want to move there next year. I like US, but as a nurse working in the Public Health system is going to be hard for me to get use to the American system... I can't understand why US is like that

[Chisca, RN]

The biggest limitation to transplantation in the US isn't financial. It is lack of donor organs. People die on waiting lists due to lack of donors. The answer is to move toward a presumed consent for donation unless you specifically opt out.

[Helicat]

Absolutely! It is a lack of "suitable" organs. Many people are willing to donate an organ - at least until they find out what all it entails. There are many who are still willing o give an organ - a kidney, who are unsuitable themselves! They may have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol - drink and or smoke heavily, are overweight, and are on medications for smoke these problems. As well meaning as these donors may be. They are in no condition, themselves, to offer a kidney, and the one who accepts such a gift may find it very difficult down the road- either from the donor developing serious misgivings, or accepting a less than pristine kidney and needing a second transplant. I actually met a woman who was on her fifth kidney!!. Presuming consent is a good step, but how many chances should one person have, before someone else is considered as a better alternative.

[Natkat, BSN, MSN, RN]

Things I wish every floor nurse knew about dialysis patients:

6. Don't ever call me in the middle of the night to tell me a dialysis patient will need treatment in the morning. Please don't call me after 10pm unless it is truly emergent and I need to put my clothes on and come in. Thank you!

Oh so much, this.

The call nurse has no control over the schedule. The schedule is usually done in the office and the assignment is made from there. You do not need to wake me up from a sound sleep to tell me something I have no control over. Pass it on in report to have the next shift call the office and have the patient added to the schedule. And do not make it a STAT thinking we will do it sooner. We won't. Unless it is truly stat (high K, respiratory distress). We will make that patient dead last and you can deal with them all day long when they keep asking "when is the dialysis nurse coming". So please. Be nice and call the office in the morning and the scheduled will work them in.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Oh so much, this.

The call nurse has no control over the schedule. The schedule is usually done in the office and the assignment is made from there. You do not need to wake me up from a sound sleep to tell me something I have no control over. Pass it on in report to have the next shift call the office and have the patient added to the schedule. And do not make it a STAT thinking we will do it sooner. We won't. Unless it is truly stat (high K, respiratory distress). We will make that patient dead last and you can deal with them all day long when they keep asking "when is the dialysis nurse coming". So please. Be nice and call the office in the morning and the scheduled will work them in.

You sound cruel.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

I have seen drug addicts (heroin, crack, meth) get transplants. More than one per customer, too, after they weren't good stewards of their gift of a new kidney. Both patients were in jail, both were convicted felons, both were on the public dole. Don't believe that patients without money don't get transplants.

And how is it that a pt mentioned above got FIVE kidneys?????

[sanGuinouslyme]

very succinct yet well put!