3 Ways to Recognize Nephrology Nurses Week

In order to honor the nephrology nurses who care for patients with kidney disease, The American Nephrology Nurse Association has designated the second full week in September each year as Nephrology Nurses Week.

"Nephrology nurses receive specialized training to provide care to their patients," according to National Today. "While undergoing treatment, patients with kidney diseases rely on nephrology nurses for their expertise in the field of kidney-related diseases. Highly trained nurses provide medical care assistance, education and support to all those affected by kidney disease. Nearly 500,000 people around the world suffer from some type of kidney disease. Remarkably, dependence on nephrology nurses will increase as kidney disease increases worldwide. Equally important, these medical professionals ensure proper care, guidance and comfort are given during all treatments, including dialysis. Like all nurses, nephrology nurses provide encouragement and reassurance as a patient goes through the steps to become healthy again."

Therefore, nephrology nurses are essential in the lives of patients who are coping with a lot to handle. After all, Kidney disease causes more deaths than breast or prostate cancer.  

"[Chronic kidney disease] is the under-recognized public health crisis," according to the National Kidney Foundation. "It affects an estimated 37 million people in the U.S. (15% of the adult population; more than one in seven adults), and approximately 90% of those with chronic kidney disease don’t even know they have it. One in three American adults (approximately 80 million people) is at risk for chronic kidney disease."

Chronic kidney disease is the ninth leading cause of death in the U.S.  In fact, in 2016, over 500,000 patients received dialysis treatment, and over 200,000 lived with a kidney transplant. 

The American Nephrology Nurse Association founded Nephrology Nurses Week. It started because of the nurses who tend to patients with kidney disease.

"Chronic kidney disease means your kidneys are damaged and losing their ability to keep you healthy," according to the National Kidney Foundation. "In the early stages of the disease, most people do not have symptoms. But as chronic kidney disease gets worse, wastes can build up in your blood and make you feel sick. You may develop other problems like high blood pressure, anemia, weak bones, poor nutritional health and nerve damage. Because kidneys are vital to so many of the body’s functions, chronic kidney disease also increases your risk of having heart and blood vessel disease. While these problems may happen slowly and without symptoms, they can lead to kidney failure, which can appear without warning. Once kidneys fail, dialysis or a kidney transplant is needed to stay alive. This stage of chronic kidney disease is known as kidney failure, end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) or end-stage renal disease (ESRD)."

Due to the importance of combatting this disease, the American Nephrology Association came up with the week to recognize and respect those doing just that.