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What Does a Renal Dialysis Nurse Do?

Renal dialysis nurses, also called nephrology nurses, provide critical care to patients with acute or chronic kidney disorders due to diseases such as diabetes, substance abuse, or high blood pressure.

As a renal dialysis nurse, you perform duties as an administrator, consultant, coordinator, educator, and researcher. Renal dialysis nurses perform a variety of tasks, including preparation of patients for dialysis, dialysis equipment operation, and education about preventative measures and self-care. Renal dialysis nurses work in hospitals, physician's offices, treatment centers, and even in the home.

Education & Training Required to Become Renal Dialysis Nurse

To become a registered nurse, you must first earn a high school degree and a bachelor of science in nursing degree, an associate's degree, or a diploma from a hospital program. You can also earn a bachelor or associate's degree through an accredited online degree program; check with the individual hospital to see if an online degree is available for a hospital diploma.

Before working as a registered nurse (RN), you must also pass the National Council Licensure Examination. Although there are no specific renal dialysis nursing degree programs, you can advance your career by becoming Certified Dialysis Nurse (CDN) , which includes 2000 hours of work as a renal dialysis nurse, and passing the certification exam.

Typical Characteristics of a Renal Dialysis Nurse

Renal dialysis nurses are caring, responsible, detail-oriented, and highly organized. Because many patients are receiving end-of-life care, dialysis nurses are able to provide emotional support while remaining emotionally stable themselves. The renal dialysis nurse is also interested learning new technologies and advances in the dialysis field and educating the patient.

High Demand for Renal Dialysis Nurses

The job outlook for registered nurses is excellent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs for nurses should grow 22 percent between 2008 and 2018, with over 500,000 jobs that need to be filled. The demand for renal dialysis nurses is especially high due to the demand for dialysis treatment of severe kidney diseases. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 354,754 people in the United States required dialysis treatment in 2006, and this is projected to increase in the coming years.