Nursing at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital
Renal Dialysis
The Renal Dialysis Unit (RDU) at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital is a 10 bed unit located on 3K. RDU provides care to patients with Acute Renal failure, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and End Stage Renal Disease(ESRD). RDU is open 12-14 hours Monday through Saturday and is closed on Sundays. In case of the need for emergent dialysis after hours or on Sundays, a nurse is on call. The patient care team consist of RN’s LPN’s, Renal Techs and Nephrologist. All licensed staff are ACLS credentialed. Four nurses are Nephrology Board Certified (CNN).
Acuity levels are assessed by the charge nurse and ratios in the unit are adjusted through out the day. Routinely the ratios are 3:1, 2:1 and 1:1.
Patients are dialyzed intraoperatively in the operating rooms at Sentara Heart Hospital. Stage 1,2,3,4,5 Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients requiring open heart surgery benefit from this renal replacement therapy during surgery. All dialysis patients that are isolated due to any type of infection are dialyzed at the bedside to prevent the spread of infection. In addition, dialysis is performed in 12 different Intensive Care Units (ICU), Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) and the Emergency Department(ED). Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) or Continuous Venous to Venous Hemofitration is initiated and supported in every ICU as well.
RDU interfaces and dialyze patients from approximately 51 Chronic dialysis units that are located in Chesapeake, the Eastern Shore, North Carolina, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Western Tidewater and Virginia Beach. Dialysis patients preparing for transplant surgery are supported pre and post Renal Transplant as the need arises.
Nephrology Nurses’ week is celebrated in the month of September of each year. This year the theme is “Caring for a Lifetime. Its who we are”…It’s what we do!(ANNANURSE.ORG 2007)”.
Renal Transplant Program
The Renal Transplant Program at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital is a program designed for patients who are referred by a nephrologist for a renal/pancreas transplant evaluation. The patient evaluation is performed by the pre-transplant coordinators, transplant surgeon, transplant nephrologists, and dietician. The transplant program also provides management of the patients on the UNOS list (United Network for Organ Sharing), along with evaluation of potential living donors. Once patients are transplanted, the Renal Transplant Program continues to follow them in the transplant clinic and then refers them back to the nephrologist.
The entire team consists of renal/pancreas transplant coordinators such as pre-coordinators, living donor coordinators, and inpatient coordinators, and licensed practical nurses, clinic nurses, and administrative associates.
|