As kidney disease is on the rise worldwide, especially among minority populations, the need for hemodialysis nurses is expected to grow over the next five years.
Education necessary for this specialty includes being licensed as a Registered Nurse, Licensed Vocational Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse, then getting experience in the field at an End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) facility.
Hemodialysis nurses are the key component for manging patient care at a dialysis center. They monitor the patient’s vital signs and consult with them about the proper treatment. They answer any questions posed by the patient and his or her family. Hemodialysis nurses are responsible for overseeing the patient’s dialysis treatment from start to finish during each visit. They ensure that patients are taking the proper physician-directed medications in the proper doses, and monitor how the patient is responding to that medication, as well as to the dialysis treatment.
Hemodialysis nurses are a vital link to keeping the patient’s physician informed about any changes in their patient’s condition, along with reviewing the patient’s lab charts and daily activities that may impact their condition. They also provide valuable follow-up should a patient receive a kidney transplant.
Some hemodialysis nurses specialize in home treatment called peritoneal dialysis (PD) and teach patients how to perform this procedure at home. Home hemodialysis nurses also monitor and administer medications and evaluate how their patient’s home peritoneal dialysis routine is progressing.
Whether working at a dialysis center or as a home hemodialysis nurse, hemodialysis nurses must be caring and compassionate individuals with excellent communication skills who are able to work one on one with patients in a sometimes hectic work environment. Dialysis patients are often depressed or discouraged or in pain and rely on their hemodialysis nurse not only for their technical wisdom but also for much needed emotional support. One benefit of working as a hemodialysis nurse is the ability to work with patients over an extended length of time which allows the practitioner to chart their progress which can be extremely satisfying.
Average annual salaries for a hemodialysis nurse is around $50,000, with higher rates for those holding the Certified Hemodialysis Nurse (CHN) credential offered by the Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology (BONET).