Nephrology Nursing Journal最新文献

Nephrology nurse practitioners (NNPs) play a critical role in providing kidney supportive care for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney failure. Their responsibilities focus on enhancing patient outcomes and improving quality of life. NNPs are instrumental in conducting comprehensive assessments to manage the complex medical, psychological, and social aspects of kidney disease. NNPs coordinate multidisciplinary care teams to ensure holistic treatment plans that address both symptoms and psychosocial support. This includes managing pain, anxiety, depression, and other distressing symptoms that can accompany the CKD diagnosis. NNPs are pivotal in advocacy efforts, while promoting policies that reduce health care disparities. They also contribute to the advancement of evidence-based practice through clinical research. Overall, NNPs are essential in delivering person-centered care that enhances both the complex clinical and emotional well-being of individuals with kidney disease.

The purpose of this secondary analysis was to report the psychometric properties of the Patient-Reported Out comes Measurement Information Systems (PROMIS) Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) - Fatigue in individuals receiving hemodialysis (HD) treatment. Measures included Piper Fatigue Scale-12, Six-Minute Walk Test, PROMIS CAT-Fatigue, and Charlson Comorbidity Index. English-speaking adults older than 18 years, cognitively intact, receiving two to three times weekly HD treatment were included. A total of 86 individuals (M = 61.7 years, SD = 13.81), predominantly males (58.1%), and African American (48.8%), completed PROMIS CAT-Fatigue; with a mean t score of 55.9 (SD = 9.17). Almost 39% (n = 33) of participants were classified as fatigued. Floor-ceiling effects, reliability, convergent validity, and clinical validity of PROMIS CAT-Fatigue was established. Further research on PROMIS CAT-Fatigue in larger dialysis populations is warranted.

As patients progress through chronic kidney disease, they are eventually faced with the reality of having to choose which type of treatment they want when their kidneys are no longer functioning enough to sustain them - when they have reached end stage kidney disease. These discussions with patients about options should start early and include the whole multidisciplinary team. Treatment options in clude transplant, peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis, and supportive care.

Nurses play a pivotal role in health care policymaking, and as change leaders, possess the unique qualifications necessary to address barriers to health equity, given shifting demographics and health care complexities. This article explores the need for nurses to serve on organization, corporate, and community Boards of Directors/Trustees and their committees, councils, panels, task forces, and commissions, and their potential impact; describes how nurses can prepare for and obtain positions these roles; identifies barriers to their participation; underscores the impact of nurses in promoting health equity; and discusses the potential paths for increased nurse representation on boards.

Nephrology nurses working in hemodialysis units face unique challenges managing multiple patients - an experience often contributing to higher levels of burnout and stress, and potentially lower job satisfaction and retention rates, exacerbating the existing nursing shortage in dialysis settings. Targeted strategies are essential to improve job satisfaction. In this study, we explored the relationship between emotional intelligence and job satisfaction among nephrology nurses working in acute and chronic hemodialysis settings. A quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive, correlational design was used. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between emotional intelligence and job satisfaction, suggesting that heightened levels of emotional intelligence are associated with increased job satisfaction among nurses. Recommendations for enhancing emotional intelligence are discussed.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects 10% of the global population, with increasing prevalence driven by diabetes, hypertension, and aging populations. CKD often progresses asymptomatically, frequently undetected until advanced stages, and may require costly treatments, such as dialysis or transplantation. CKD imposes a substantial financial burden on health care systems, with management costs rising sharply as the disease progresses, underscoring the need for early, cost-effective interventions. The Kidney Health Score (KHS) was developed to assess six essential risk factors - blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood glucose (HbA1c), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR). Identifying these risk factors enables health care professionals to manage modifiable risks and improve CKD outcomes. This article provides evidence-based insights into the relevance of each factor to kidney health.

Citrate anticoagulation offers a targeted and effective method for preventing clotting in extracorporeal blood circuits during dialysis. This article reviews the mechanisms, benefits, risks, and best practices associated with citrate anticoagulation, emphasizing its growing role within critical care and dialysis.

Patients in need of a kidney transplant have the option of receiving a kidney from a living donor or a deceased donor. Patients in the United States who do not have an available living donor typically wait on the deceased donor waiting list for an average of three to five years, although some patients may wait longer. The waiting list is very complex and intended to allocate kidneys in a fair and equitable manner. The deceased donor waiting list is currently managed by the United Network for Organ Sharing, but a recent change will soon distribute its current functions to multiple different organizations with a goal to improve transplantation rates. This article discusses how to help patients navigate the complexity of the kidney transplant waitlist.