As a registered nurse for over 30 years with experience in a variety of settings including: critical care, organ recovery and transplant, cardiac cath lab and wound care I’ve seen and done a lot. One of the irrefutable joys of nursing, no matter the setting, is connecting with people and helping them live a [...]
Bioethics, noun A discipline dealing with ethical implications of biological research and applications especially in medicine. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the term bioethics was first used in 1970. You may be surprised to learn that the introduction of dialysis was one of the reasons the term bioethics came about. In 1962 the first [...]
Every year, the month of September is used to bring awareness to malnutrition and its devastating consequences which includes: 2.2x increased risk for being admitted to the hospital with serious infections 1.4x increased likelihood of being readmitted to the hospital within 30 days following discharge 73% higher hospital costs 3.4x higher inpatient mortality Patients [...]
In 2019, 62,275 people were using peritoneal dialysis (PD) to manage their end-stage renal disease (ESRD). In the coming years, that number will likely increase as more patients are encouraged to use home modalities instead of the standard in-center hemodialysis (ICHD). The shift to focusing more on PD has major benefits for patients and [...]
There is a persistent myth in healthcare that patients with cirrhosis, or advanced liver disease, should restrict protein intake to help manage their disease. This stems from decades old research that has since been disproven. In fact, people with advanced liver disease are at increased risk of protein-energy malnutrition and every effort should be [...]
Patients with end-stage renal disease who are unable or are waiting to receive a transplant rely on dialysis for life saving care. Dialysis replaces the role of the kidneys by removing waste products and excess fluid. Fluid overload is a common consequence as hemodialysis patients struggle to limit sodium and fluid consumption, making it difficult [...]
Collagen supplements are often featured in ads, search engines, television, and social media as a modern miracle to fight skin aging as well as other benefits. Consequently, many people have incorporated collagen supplements in their daily routine in hopes to support the health of their skin, joints, and hair. But what exactly is collagen [...]
Over the last several years, vitamin D has gained notoriety in mainstream healthcare, but clinicians working in CKD, ESRD, and dialysis have long been aware of this important nutrient. As CKD progresses, vitamin D levels are compromised due to the kidneys’ declining function and ability to activate vitamin D. This in turn reduces absorption of [...]
The weight loss industry rakes in billions of dollars every year as millions of adults in the U.S. attempt, or in many cases reattempt, to lose weight. Only 20% of people who achieve the gold standard goal of 10% weight loss will go on to maintain it. With so much money, time, and effort being [...]
Have you ever counseled a patient who frequently seems to be in an “off” mood? What does that look like? Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines mood as the following: “predominant emotion” or “a prevailing attitude.” When someone is “moody” they may display one or more of these emotions: Anger Sadness Tension Gloominess Fearfulness Perhaps the patient’s seemingly [...]
