Transforming Kidney Health: The Role of Nursing Leadership in Value-Based Care.

This article examines the critical role of nursing leadership in the transition of nephrology care toward value-based models, highlighting how interdisciplinary care teams and population health management strategies are instrumental in improving patient outcomes and achieving health equity in kidney care. By reviewing both historical and present value-based care models in nephrology, this article showcases the evolution of care delivery and the strategic alignment of health care practices with value-based objectives. We introduce "HEALTH" as an innovative blueprint for nephrology nursing leadership, encapsulating key strategies to enhance kidney health care within the framework of value-based models. The acronym HEALTH stands for Holistic Care Integration, Equity and Tailored Care, Analytics and Machine Learning, Leverage Federal Programs, Training and Education, and Habit of Improvement, each representing a cornerstone in the strategic approach to advancing nephrology care. Through this lens, we discuss the impact of nursing leadership in fostering a culture of continuous improvement, leveraging technological advancements, and advocating for comprehensive and equitable patient care. This article aims to provide a roadmap for nursing leaders in nephrology to navigate the complexities of health care delivery, ensuring high-quality, cost-effective care that addresses the needs of a diverse patient population.

Utilizing the 'Iowa Model Revised: Evidence-Based Practice' to Develop an Intervention for Use in a Hemodialysis Setting.

The development of nursing evidence within hemodialysis is challenged by the vast numbers of specialized tasks clinicians undertake. Developing an evidence base is complex and multi-faceted, requiring a collaborative and well-defined process. Commonly, a process of quality improvement is initially undertaken, whereby nurses develop a plan, undertake action, study outcomes, and review results. However, when reviewing current processes to identify and develop evidence-based practices across various health services, a more detailed and planned methodology is required. This article provides nurses with knowledge to apply a well-defined framework (the Iowa Model-Revised of Evidence-Based Practice to Promote Excel lence in Health Care) to transform a quality improvement project into the development of evidence-based practice.

The Current State of Kidney Supportive Care in Nephrology Nursing Practice: A Literature Review.

Kidney disease is associated with a high physical and psychological symptom burden. For patients whose condition is more compromised, receiving dialysis as a life-sustaining therapy may not improve longevity or quality of life. Palliative care for patients with kidney disease (also termed kidney supportive care [KSC]) is appropriate for this patient population. Nephrology nurses working in dialysis are well positioned to talk with patients about what patients perceive constitutes a meaningful life or death. A literature review was undertaken to find evidence about if and how nephrology nurses engage in KSC with patients receiving dialysis. Based on the 29 articles included in this review, the overarching finding was nephrology nurses working in dialysis are not routinely engaging in KSC. Reasons for this are varied and warrant further investigation.

Implementación de un programa de terapia intravenosa en pacientes nefrológicos: análisis de los resultados / Implementation of an Intravenous Therapy Program in Nephrological Patients: Analysis of Results

Introducción:Evaluar la prevalencia y el impacto del uso de líneas medias canalizadas por el Equipo de Infusión y Accesos Vasculares mediante punción eco-guiada comparada con la es-trategia endovenosa convencional (punción de catéter venoso periférico por enfermeras de hospitalización) en una unidad de nefrología y trasplante renal.Material y Método: Estudio observacional retrospectivo. Se compararon 3 periodos: pre-implantación, implantación y consolidación del Equipo de Infusión y Accesos Vasculares. Se incluyeron todos los pacientes ingresados en las unidades de hospitalización de Nefrología y Trasplante Renal que requirie-ron de la colocación de catéteres vasculares periféricos y línea media. Se analizó la prevalencia de acceso venoso, el tiempo de permanencia y los motivos de retirada (complicaciones).Resultados: La incidencia de los catéteres vasculares perifé-ricos fue decreciente mientras que el de las líneas medias se incrementó progresivamente en los tres períodos. Así mismo, no se observaron diferencias en el tiempo medio de perma-nencia de los catéteres vasculares periféricos mientras que la permanencia de días de la línea media se incrementó.Se confirma en todos los periodos una tasa de complicaciones más elevada y variable en los catéteres vasculares periféricos; mientras que en la línea media la tasa de complicaciones fue menor y más estable.Conclusiones: La implementación de un programa de terapia intravenosa en pacientes nefrológicos ha permitido minimizar el número de dispositivos venosos por paciente, con la conse-cuente reducción de punciones durante el ingreso, así como la disminución de las complicaciones asociadas a la canaliza-ción venosa (menor morbilidad).Palabras clave: Equipo de Infusión y Accesos Vasculares (EIAV); Líneas Medias (LM); Catéteres Vasculares Periféricos (CVP); complicaciones; paciente nefrológico. (AU)

Objective:To evaluate the prevalence and impact of midline catheters inserted by the Infusion and Vascular Access Team using echo-guided puncture compared to conventional intra-venous strategies (peripheral venous catheter insertion by hospitalization nurses) in a nephrology and kidney transplant unit.Material and Method: This is a retrospective observational study. Three periods were compared: pre-implementation, implementation, and consolidation of the Infusion and Vas-cular Access Team. All patients admitted to the Nephrology and Kidney Transplantation hospitalization units requiring the placement of peripheral vascular catheters and midline were included. The prevalence of venous access, dwell time, and reasons for removal (complications) were analyzed. Resultados: The incidence of peripheral vascular catheters decreased while that of midlines progressively increased in all three periods. Moreover, there were no differences in the mean dwell time of peripheral vascular catheters, whereas the dwell time of midlines increased. A higher and variable rate of complications was confirmed in peripheral vascular catheters in all periods, while in midlines, the complication rate was lower and more stable.Conclusions: Implementing an intravenous therapy program in nephrology patients has allowed for minimizing the num-ber of venous devices per patient, resulting in a reduction in punctures during hospitalization and a decrease in com-plications associated with venous cannulation (lower mor-bidity). (AU)

Evaluation of the use of a Renal Health application by kidney transplant recipients / Avaliação do uso do aplicativo Renal Health por transplantados renais / Evaluación del uso de la Aplicación Renal Health por parte de los receptores de trasplante renal

Abstract Objective: to evaluate the use of a renal health application by kidney transplant recipients. Method: a retrospective, observational study with a sample composed of individuals registered in the kidney transplant section of the application from July of 2018 to April of 2021. Demographic data, data entry, time of use, weight, blood pressure, blood glucose, creatinine, medication schedules, appointments, and tests were the variables collected. Descriptive analysis of the data was performed. Results: eight hundred and twenty-three downloads of the application were identified, and 12.3% of those were registered as kidney transplant recipients, the majority from southeastern Brazil (44.9%), 36±11 years old, and female (59.1%). Of the sample, 35.1% entered information such as creatinine (62%), weight (58.2%), and blood pressure (51.8%). Most used the application for one day (63.3%) and 13.9% for more than one hundred days. Those who used it for more than one day (36.7%) recorded weight (69%), medication intake (65.5%) and creatinine (62%), and scheduled appointments (69%). Conclusion: the kidney transplant recipient section of the Renal Health application generated interest in the young population, but showed low adherence throughout the assessed months. These results offer a relevant perspective on the implementation of mHealth technologies in kidney transplantation.

Resumo Objetivo: avaliar o uso do aplicativo Renal Health por transplantados renais. Método: estudo observacional retrospectivo com amostra composta por usuários que realizaram cadastro na seção para transplantados renais do aplicativo de julho de 2018 a abril de 2021. Foram coletadas as seguintes variáveis: dados demográficos, inserção de dados, tempo de uso, registros de peso, pressão arterial, glicemia, creatinina, horários das medicações, consultas e exames. Realizou-se análise descritiva dos dados. Resultados: houve 1.823 downloads do aplicativo e 12,3% cadastraram-se na seção para transplantados renais, a maioria do Sudeste do Brasil (44,9%), com 36±11 anos e do sexo feminino (59,1%). Da amostra, 35,1% inseriram informações como creatinina (62%), peso (58,2%) e pressão arterial (51,8%). A maioria utilizou o aplicativo por um dia (63,3%) e 13,9% por mais de cem dias. Os que utilizaram por mais de um dia (36,7%), inseriram peso (69%), agendaram consultas (69%), medicações (65,5%) e creatinina (62%). Conclusão: a seção para transplantados renais do aplicativo Renal Health despertou interesse na população jovem, mas apresentou baixa adesão ao longo dos meses avaliados. Esses resultados oferecem perspectiva relevante na implementação de tecnologias mHealth no transplante renal.

Resumen Objetivo: evaluar el uso de la aplicación Renal Health por parte de los receptores de trasplante renal. Método: estudio observacional retrospectivo con una muestra compuesta por usuarios que se registraron en la sección de trasplantados renales dentro de la aplicación desde julio de 2018 hasta abril de 2021. Se recolectaron las siguientes variables: datos demográficos, ingreso de datos, tiempo de uso, registros de peso, presión arterial, glucosa en sangre, creatinina, esquemas de medicación, consultas y exámenes. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo de los datos. Resultados: Ocurrieron 1.823 descargas de la aplicación y 12,3% se registró en la sección de trasplantados, la mayoría del sudeste de Brasil (44,9%), con edad de 36±11 años y del sexo femenino (59,1%). De la muestra, 35,1% ingresó información como: creatinina (62%), peso (58,2%) y presión arterial (51,8%). La mayoría utilizó la aplicación durante un día (63,3%) y el 13,9% más de cien días. Quienes lo usaron por más de un día (36,7%), agregaron peso (69%), programación de consultas (69%), medicación (65,5%) y creatinina (62%). Conclusión: la sección para trasplantados renales de la aplicación Renal Health despertó interés en la población joven, pero mostró baja adherencia en los meses evaluados. Estos resultados ofrecen una perspectiva relevante en la implementación de tecnologías mHealth en el trasplante renal.

Observations in the Field Concerning Home Dialysis.

This article describes observations and findings related to home dialysis therapy. Dialyzing at home provides many benefits, giving patients more flexibility and autonomy. Ensuring proper education and training, and home adaptation is critical for patient safety. Survey findings related to group training, home visits, medical records, and the use of patient care technicians in home dialysis are reviewed. Implications for nephrology nursing in each scenario are discussed, including survey guidance for transitional care dialysis.

How Can Nurses Support Patients on Hemodialysis Who Experience Needle Fear? An Online Educational Intervention for Nephrology Nurses.

Nephrology nurses struggle to support patients on hemodialysis who experience needle fear due to absence of adequate programs or guidelines. Therefore, we have designed an educational intervention for nurses to learn techniques and strategies to support patients with needle fear and review best cannulation practices with minimal trauma to improve patients' experience of dialysis. A pre-post design measured self-reported confidence in nurses' ability to support patients on dialysis who have a fear of needles. We found nurses can benefit from targeted educational interventions that provide information and strategies regarding needle fear management. Findings from this study have a potential to be transferred to other chronic disease settings with frequent needle use.

A 50th Anniversary Visit to the Nephrology Nursing Journal Archives: The Early Years.

This year (2023) marks the 50th year of the publication of the official journal of the American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA). To recognize this event, we conducted an archival review of the journal dating back to the first issue. The review provided a glimpse into the care of patients with kidney disease and the history of nephrology nursing. This article focuses on the early years of the journal.