What Is the Role of a Nephrology Nurse?
All registered nurses are directly involve with patient care, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Registered nurses provide essential instructions to patients, their families and their caregivers regard post-treatment care. Nephrology nurses have additional training that prepares them to treat the special needs of patients who are experiencing chronic or acute kidney failure.
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History
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Nephrology is a recently recognized medical specialty. The federal government began funding the treatment of end-stage kidney disease (ESRD) in 1973. Treatment options included peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis and kidney transplantation. The scope of nephrology nursing has continued to expand since that time and involves prevention as well as sick patient care.
Environment
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Nephrology nurses may practice in a variety of medical settings including hospitals, dialysis clinics, transplant programs and private physician practices. They may work in both in-patient or out-patient settings. In some cases they may work in home health care settings. Nephrology patients may be critically ill requiring nephrology nurses to work in intensive care units (ICU).
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Training
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Nephrology nursing requires additional training beyond that which is required to become a registered nurse. Nephrology nurses must have additional training in anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, pharmacotherapy, nutrition, growth and development, and end of life care. Nephrology nurses also require additional experience in kidney disease care. Advance practice nephrology nurses, such as a nephrology nurse practitioner, require a master's degree in nursing.
Certification
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The Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission offers three levels of certification for nephrology nurses. The Certified Dialysis Nurse (CDN) certification is available to registered nurses that have completed at least 2,000 hours of nephrology care and at least 15 hours of qualifying continuing education within the past 2 years. The Certified Nephrology Nurse (CNN) certification is available to registered nurses who hold a bachelor's or master's degree in nursing and meet additional requirements. The Certified Nephrology Nurse-Nurse Practitioner (CNN-NP) certification is available to registered nurses who possess at least a master's degree in nursing and meet other specified requirements.
Benefits
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According to the BLS, the demand for registered nurses in all specialties is expected to grow by 22 percent between 2008 and 2018. Nurses involved in specialties that care for the aging population, including nephrology, are likely to be in the greatest demand. The average income for registered nurses as of May 2008 was $62,450, according to the BLS. The top 10 percent of registered nurses earned in excess of $92,000 per year.
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References
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