Nursing Global Conference

Nephrology is one specialty that caters for patients with health issues of the kidney. This can be a variety of chronic diseases involving the kidneys, acute injuries of the kidneys, amongst many more diseases that require dialysis and many more. Thus, nurses consequently play an extremely central role in providing a holistic approach by ensuring the patient undergoes education related to treatment while showing support towards the implementation of treatment so that renal health is maintained effectively. This session will deal with general rules in which practice conditions will be put on nephrology nurses, from the best practice for the kidney care of the patient up to educating the patient and how to manage an end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patient or patients with other complications in medical care settings.

Among the major responsibilities with the patients who have ESRD or other conditions that relate to their kidneys is the management of their care during dialysis treatment assigned to the nephrology nurse. The function and comfort of the patient during treatment are checked by the dialysis nurses during treatments of the patients. Monitoring for complications: monitoring of vital signs; symptom management presenting due to dialysis such as hypotension, cramping, and tiredness. In addition to this, the nephrology nurses educate a patient on self-care measures, which include fluid restriction, dietary restrictions, and self-medication, so that he may be in its optimum health during intervals between treatments.

Patient education is indeed the heart and core of nephrology nursing. The nurses, along with the patient and his family, educate them on the prognosis of kidney disease, the treatments available for it, and ways of managing it. Thus, the nephrology nurses educate the patients regarding diet, fluid management, and lifestyle changes so that they can be more active participants in their health care. The patient-centered care tends to reduce the chances of complications and rehospitalization, which is healthier for improving the quality of life. Nephrology nurses also educate the patient on follow-up and treatment compliance recommended by the doctor, which plays a significant role in the slowdown process of the disease progression of CKD.

In addition to dialysis care and education, nephrology nurses collaborate the care with other health care providers. They collaborate with nephrologists, dietitians, social workers, and pharmacists to design totally personalized care plans for each patient according to their special needs. This multidisciplinary team structure gives the nurses an assurance that the patient will be treated as a holistic being encompassing his or her physical, emotional, and social being. They are also taught early changes showing electrolyte imbalance and infection hence allowing them to make interventions in a more appropriate time to improve the outcome of the patient.

This education session provides the best practices in nephrology nursing, including approaches to managing dialysis, patient education, coordination of care, and management of chronic kidney disease as well as lifestyle modification. Continued professional development fills all these important roles in the area of nephrology and is encompassed in this education session. With the above guidelines, one is sure to ensure the appropriate amount of compassionate care in a manner that addresses renal health and better lives for patients suffering from renal conditions.

These guidelines will serve as a background within the domain of nephrology nursing within the improvement of their competencies in kidney care and patient-centeredness in practice.