Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Dialysis Nurse Job Description & Career Opportunities

A dialysis nursing candidate must love to take care of patients with kidney issues. When the kidneys have failed to function completely or have been malfunctioning, the use a dialysis machine is required, which requires the services of a qualified dialysis nurse. This position is categorized under nephrology nursing. Normally, the candidate is a university graduate in nursing with a certification for nephrology. Basically, the dialysis nurse handles patients with hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. Hemodialysis patients are treated at the outpatient department of a hospital. Peritoneal dialysis patients, on the other hand, are given home service. Patients who need dialysis want a dialysis nurse who is very reliable and attentive to any changes in their condition.
Duties

While attending to patients, the dialysis nurse gets their vital signs, reports of any patient complaint to the attending physician, gives the prescribed medications, listens to their needs, and observes any sudden changes in their condition. Patients who need the dialysis nurse have toxins and waste products removed from their blood. In hemodialysis, a large machine is used to filter the waste products. The peritoneal membrane is cleansed in peritoneal dialysis. The dialysis nurse needs to have a thorough knowledge of dialysis to understand what the patient is going through. A lot of patience and empathy must be shown to the dialysis patient.
Appropriate Training

Since the life of the dialysis patient is in the hands of the dialysis nurse, being particular with details is important. The dosage of medications needs to be reviewed as appropriate and correct before administering. Being able to work well under pressure and address the dialysis patient’s concerns are also crucial in dealing with the dialysis patient. As a dialysis nurse, the candidate receives a lucrative paycheck for performing well. Adequate training is a must in handling the fragile state of a dialysis patient. There will always be a dialysis patient to take care of for a dialysis nurse. The opportunities for a dialysis nurse are bound to remain in demand.
Updated with Trends

A dialysis nurse must be up to date with the most current techniques for handling dialysis patients. There may be new technology that can help cure a dialysis patient which the dialysis nurse must be trained to use. Joining a good hospital for conducting hemodialysis shall serve as good exposure to the treatment of dialysis patients. Being referred to assist in the treatment of peritoneal dialysis patients for home service is a good way to boost their work experience. Serving the patient at the residence needs sensitivity to the house rules. Being reliable and on time for the patient’s appointment is among the most important duties for continuing service.
Growth

The dialysis nurse candidate can grow in the field and expand their career opportunities. Attending seminars and conferences related to the field can be valuable in boosting the training background. Being immersed in the field of dialysis needs a strong urge to take care of patients and look after their welfare all the time. The kidneys of the patients are the primary source of concern for the attending physician and the dialysis nurse. Being attentive to all the information about the patient can produce great results.