Nephrology Nurse Goes the Extra Mile for Patients on Peritoneal Dialysis

Content courtesy of DaVita.

“I would walk a mile for my patients, if that’s what they needed me to do, and think nothing of it,” said Cheroyl Reado, RN, recounting her dedication to the hundreds of patients she’s served in her 30-year tenure as a nephrology nurse.

Nephrology nurses support patients managing kidney failure, which often requires patients to receive dialysis for multiple hours a week to replace the function of the organ.

Nephrology nurse Cheroyl Reado, RN, with Jose, a former patient. Watch their touching video here.

The majority of the United States’ 500,000 dialysis patients receive their care in a dialysis center. But different treatment options are growing in popularity. One in particular, known as peritoneal dialysis (PD), allows patients to receive care in their homes.

Nephrology nurses like Reado can be trained to oversee this type of dialysis care and serve as a trusted partner to their patients seeking to live a more independent lifestyle.

Reado Connects With Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

As a peritoneal dialysis nurse, Reado’s role is to serve as a case manager throughout her patients’ health journey. Reado meets with patients during monthly checkups and communicates information about their health to their nephrologist.

Choosing the right treatment modality at the right time is a decision that is always made between patients and their nephrologist. For many eligible patients, peritoneal dialysis can be a treatment option that allows them to live more fully. Peritoneal dialysis treatments more closely mimic the natural function of the kidneys and are associated with better patient outcomes like better blood pressure control and quicker recovery times between treatments.

Patients who choose peritoneal dialysis are often able to maintain work, school, and social schedules because it affords more flexibility than in-center dialysis treatments both in when they treat and how often they need to come into a dialysis center. Despite these benefits, choosing PD can feel overwhelming to some patients because they’re required to take a more active role in their own care.

PD nurses play a crucial role in helping patients feel confident and connected to their care teams while treating in their homes. When new patients considering PD find themselves in Reado’s home dialysis training room, she talks them through the benefits of the treatment and what they can expect day to day. Reado‘s expertise helps patients feel supported and confident as they transition to a new treatment.

“When I meet a patient for the first time, I take them by the hand and show them the machine and how everything works, and then we go over their personal health goals,” said Reado. “I let them know what I expect, and they’re responsive to that.”

Developing a personal connection with patients is inherent to Reado’s role as a nephrology nurse because she is often playing as quarterback on their care team — anticipating potential challenges and helping her team tackle them in coordination with the patient, physician, and care partners before a …read more

Read full article here: nurse.com