Nephrology nursing journal : journal of the American Nephrology Nurses' Association
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The COVID-19 pandemic is a situation of great magnitude that most of us have not experienced in our lifetime. Pandemics are widespread, affecting many geographical areas, and uncertainty is inherent given the rapidly changing situations. As nurses in dialysis providing a life-sustaining therapy, we are required to provide an essential service during pandemics and need to thrive in the uncertainty. This article offers points for consideration that can assist nephrology nurses in their approach to these uncertain times.
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The Northwest Kidney Center (NWC) in Seattle, Washington, has been a leader in nephrology care for almost 60 years, opening the first hemodialysis unit in the United States in 1962. In February 2020, one of their patients was the first reported death from COVID-19 in the United States. On April 6, 2020, as a part of NNJ Extra - the Nephrology Nursing Journal's podcast series, Beth Ulrich, EdD, RN, FACHE, FAONL, FAAN, Editor-in-Chief of the Nephrology Nursing Journal, talked with the leaders of the Northwest Kidney Centers - Suzanne Watnick, MD, the Chief Medical Officer, and Liz McNamara, MN, RN, Vice President of Patient Care Services and the Chief Nursing Officer, who discussed dealing with the onset of COVID-19 at NWC, how their team worked together to provide care for their patients and support for their staff members, and the lessons they learned that can benefit others.
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The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in sleep quality, fatigue, mental health, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) over a two-year period among patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis treatment at home. We further explored the extent to which sleep quality, fatigue, and mental health predicted health-related quality of life outcomes. This prospective study included 55 patients. ⋯ In contrast, fatigue remained unchanged over the same time period. Transplantation seems to generally benefit the outcome of HRQoL. Strategies to improve sleep and HRQoL may include systematic risk factor modification and efforts to optimise symptomatic treatment.
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Central venous catheter (CVC) vascular access is common among patients on hemodialysis. CVC use carries a substantial risk of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), costly events that place patients at a high risk of mortality. Our hospital and dialysis organization developed a cooperative strategy to reduce the rate of CLABSI among hospitalized patients on hemodialysis with a CVC. ⋯ Fourteen CLABSIs were reported in the 17-month period prior to the implementation of the program, while no new CLABSIs occurred in the 30 months following implementation of the program. This prevention program effectively reduced the frequency of CLABSIs. Broader implementation of such programs may result in better outcomes and lower costs for hospitalized patients on hemodialysis.