A nephrology nurse is a nursing professional that focuses on kidney health. They treat and care for patients that are suffering from kidney problems as well as those that are at risk of developing kidney problems. Some of the medical problems that nephrology nurses may encounter include polycystic kidney disease, renal cysts, obstructions, and kidney stones.
What Is a Nephrology Nurse?
The kidneys are the organs that our bodies use to filter toxins and waste from our blood. The effects of unhealthy or improperly functioning kidneys can be devastating. Nephrology is a branch of medicine that focuses on the study and treatment of kidneys and the health problems associated with them.
Since there may be several factors that affect the kidneys’ health, nephrology nurses will typically work with a variety of patient types, including children, adults, and other special population groups. If you’re considering a career in nephrology nursing, keep in mind that you will have many options to specialize in the field. You may choose to specialize in areas such as pediatric nephrology, for instance, or in specific kidney disease treatments, such as dialysis or transplantation.
As a nephrology nurse, you should also be prepared to stay on top of new developments in your area of expertise. You can often do this by regularly reading niche medical journals and attending conferences and seminars. In doing so, you’ll be able to offer your employers and patients a higher degree of service.
What Does a Nephrology Nurse Do?
Nephrology nurses play an important part in assessing, diagnosing, educating, and treating patients who have developed or are at risk of developing kidney-related problems.
Patient assessment often involves a careful examination of the patient and his or her medical history. Nephrology nurses will often make the initial patient assessment, which typically entails performing a complete medical assessment and discussing the patient’s symptoms. They may also assist with diagnostic procedures, such as internal imaging, and examine patients’ medical histories.
These nursing professionals also help educate patients. For instance, they may be called upon to help patients better understand their conditions and how they can manage them. These nurses may dole out advice to patients on everything from nutrition to treatment options and beyond.
Nephrology nurses also care for and treat patients suffering from kidney problems. This may include administering medication and assisting with dialysis. For many patients in the later stages of kidney disease, dialysis is necessary for prolonging life. Nephrology nurses that specialize in dialysis will hook kidney patients up to dialysis machines, which artificially filter the blood. Patients with severe kidney disease may also require kidney transplants, which nephrology nurses might also assist with.
Since some kidney diseases are brought on or exacerbated indirectly by other health problems, nephrology nurses must also be familiar with these health problems. They may be required to treat them as well. Some of these health problems may include diabetes, high blood pressure, and substance abuse.
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Where Do Nephrology Nurses Work?
As a nephrology nurse, you will often find employment in physicians’ offices, hospitals, clinics, and similar medical facilities. Some home care agencies may also need nephrology nurses to help with home-bound patients needing kidney care, such as dialysis.
How to Become a Nephrology Nurse
The first step toward becoming a nephrology nurse is to become a registered nurse (RN). To do this, you must earn your nursing diploma or degree and pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
Once you’ve become a licensed RN, you can then start gaining the experience required for certification. To become a certified nephrology nurse, you will need to have at least 3,000 hours of experience in a clinical nephrology setting and at least 30 hours of approved continuing education in nephrology.
After you’ve gained the necessary experience and completed the required education, you can then sit for the Certified Nephrology Nurse Certification, which the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission offers.
Additional Resources for Nephrology Nurses
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