Clients on Kidney Dialysis

The kidneys sift out the “trash” that collects in the blood.  They sort through this waste, looking for things the body can use—like sodium, potassium, sugar and phosphorous.  Everything else is sent to the bladder in the form of urine. The kidneys also remove drugs from the body, balance the body's fluids, release hormones, produce vitamin D, and control the production of red blood cells.  If the kidneys aren't functioning, your client may need regular dialysis.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

• Let your supervisor know right away if your client skips a dialysis session!  Skipping dialysis makes kidney function worse. 
• If your dialysis client has a problem with itching, suggest  drinking spring water instead of tap water. Tap water may have too many impurities in it, which may cause some of the itching. 
• Dialysis clients must have their pulse checked in their AV fistula access every day.
• Remind your clients not to sleep with their access arm under their head or body.  This could put too much pressure on the access.
• It’s important to be very careful with a dialysis client’s access arm.  Encourage your client not to lift anything heavy or to put too much pressure on that arm.
• If your client has a catheter access in the abdomen, it’s very important to watch for signs of infection.  Tell your supervisor right away if there is any redness or swelling around the catheter site.   If the infection spreads to the abdominal lining, it can be very serious. 
• Remind your clients to check their dialysis solution (called dialysate) to see if it looks cloudy.   If it does, it could be a sign of infection and it should be reported immediately.