Growing Subspecialties Enhance Career Choices for Nephrology Nurses

by Alex A. Kecskes

According to recent statistics, 10 to 20 million Americans have kidney disease, and many don't even know they have it. The primary risk factors include diabetes, hypertension and a family history of kidney problems. People who have at least one of these risk factors are almost five times more likely to develop kidney disease. Helping to care for these people are the growing legions of Nephrology Nurses.



Nephrology nurses are licensed RN and LPN nurses who ensure that patients’ medications and treatment are properly administered, and that patients receive the right dialysis on a daily basis.



With today's aging population expected to increase in number, more people will be on Medicare. Those with renal disease must be treated at Medicare-certified facilities, which must have a full-time RN experienced in dialysis. These specialized nurses will also work out of the hospital or clinic. They will oversee home programs to ensure that patients and their care partners receive the proper training for self-dialysis procedures--like home hemodialysis, for example.



In addition, nephrology nurses will be expected to keep abreast of the latest advances and treatments in the field. In fact, the field has become fragmented into a number of subspecialties. These include:



• Transplantation

• Hemodialysis

• Peritoneal dialysis

• Continuous renal replacement therapy

• Conservative management



The career path of a nephrology nurse may also include such options as:



• Patient education about risk factors that can lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD)

• Research into the effectiveness of treatment modalities and the impact of nursing practice on patient outcomes

• Working with government agencies to develop health policies designed to improve the care of kidney disease patients.



Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients.