Dialysis Nurse

Dialysis nurses must be BCLS certified but may also need ACLS certification.  There are two certifications you can pursue:  Certified Dialysis Nurse (CDN) and Certified Nephrology Nurse (CNN). A CDN requires 2,000 hours of dialysis experience within the last 12 months, along with 20 contact hours of continuing education. A CNN requires you to have a BSN and 3,000 hours of nephrology experience and 30 contact hours of continuing education.

With experience, some dialysis nurses become nephrology case managers, transplant coordinators, or nurse educators.  Others go on to get their MSN or doctoral degree as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in nephrology. 

You can also get your Nurse Practitioner (NP) degree with nephrology focus and become certified as a Certified Nephrology Nurse-NP (CNN-NP).

There are two types of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Dialysis nurses must be skilled at administering, monitoring, and providing patient teaching for both. 

• Patient assessment and monitoring: vital signs, lab work, foot checks, administer medications and watch for adverse changes in status
• Safely administer dialysis by ensuring the machine is set up correctly and operates accurately
• Patient teaching about how to self-administer dialysis if used in a home setting
• Collaborate with nephrology physicians and notify them immediately for status changes
  

• Renal Failure: chronic and acute kidney issues
• Renal transplant patients
• Diabetics
• Hypertension
• Heart disease
  

1. Complete an ADN or BSN program in nursing
2. Pass the NCLEX-RN exam and apply for your RN license
3. Have at least one year of experience working as an RN
4. Apply to work on a dialysis unit either as part of a hospital or free-standing center 
5. Apply for a CDN certificate after meeting prerequisites
   

American Nephrology Nurses’ Association 

• Mission: “The American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA) improves members' lives through education, advocacy, networking, and science.”
• Cost: $70-80, annually.
• Perks: Access to educational resources, career-building opportunities, networking, leadership
• development, and more.

American Society of Nephrology

• Mission: “ASN leads the fight to prevent, treat, and cure kidney diseases throughout the world by educating health professionals and scientists, advancing research and innovation, communicating new knowledge, and advocating for the highest quality care for patients.”
• Cost: Free-$395, annually.
• Perks: Access to publications, educational discounts, funding opportunities, and more.

National Kidney Foundation

• Mission: “[The NKF is] dedicated to preventing kidney and urinary tract diseases, improving the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by kidney disease and increasing the availability of all organs for transplantation.
• Cost: $25-390, annually.  
• Perks: Access to a variety of continuing education resources, evidence-based clinical practice guidelines, scientific research grants and fellowships, educational stipends, and access to clinical tools and resources.