Dialysis Essentials

This clinical education program is designed to provide the nephrology practitioner information and a foundation for the care and management of the dialysis patient population. It is not intended to define a standard of care or an exclusive approach to patient management. With a focus upon the role of the advanced practitioner, recommendations for appropriate orders and troubleshooting are listed throughout.

The program is derived from the best information available from nationally recognized clinical guidelines and the nephrology literature. The utility of this program is to serve as a framework. Clinicians must examine their individual practice patterns, specific patient population and institutional limitations as they evaluate the appropriateness of the recommended management approaches.

Please note: All information contained within is current as of January 2011.

Module Listing

Module 1: Hemodialysis
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Upon completion of this module the Advanced Practitioner will be able to:

• Identify common dialysis access options
• Discuss the management of infectious complications
• Discuss the management of bleeding abnormalities in the dialysis patient
• Define acute, chronic and technical complications of dialysis
• Recognize the mechanics of a hemodialysis machine
• Identify strategies to improve hemodialysis adequacy

Module 2: Peritoneal Dialysis
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(includes Case Studies)
Upon completion of this module the Advanced Practitioner will be able to:

• Recognize appropriate candidates for peritoneal dialysis
• Identify factors that may influence peritoneal dialysis adequacy
• Recognize complications that may occur with peritoneal dialysis
• Recall PD catheter design features
• Differentiate between the two primary types of peritoneal dialysis

Module 3: Management Issues in HD & PD
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(includes Case Studies)
Upon completion of this module the Advanced Practitioner will be able to:

• Describe major features of abnormalities in CKD-bone and mineral disorder
• Recognize the pathophysiology of secondary hyperparathyroidism
• Identify current treatment approaches for secondary hyperparathyroidism
• Discuss the etiology and pathophysiology of anemia in ESRD
• Define the most common causes of hyporesponsiveness to ESA therapy.
• Construct an initial and maintenance dosing regimens for ESAs.
• Define factors which contribute to malnutrition in the HD patient
• Discuss dietary requirements for the HD patient
• Discuss various treatment strategies to improve malnutrition in the HD patient

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