Dialysis nurses administer dialysis for patients in renal failure. They operate as a subspecialty to nephrology nurses, who have a specialized understanding of kidney diseases and conditions. In many cases, a dialysis nurse has more regular hours than other nurses because their patients are on a regular schedule.
On a daily basis, a dialysis nurse will:
- Assess patients before and after their procedures
- Monitor vitals
- Setup and tear down dialysis machines
- Monitor patients during the procedure
- Answer questions
- Document patient care
They are normally either registered nurses (RN) or advanced practice nurses (APRN). This requires at least a Bachelor’s Degree, and the RN license. Nurses then specialized training in nephrology. Some certifications available are Certified Nephrology Nurse, Certified Dialysis Nurse, and Certified Nephrology Nurse Practitioner.