Healthcare Staffing for Nephrology Nurses
What Are the Types of Nephrology Nursing Certifications?
There are two designated Certifications recognized by the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission:
Certified Dialysis Nurse CDN
The requirements to be able to obtain this certification include:
- Applicant must hold an active unrestricted nursing license in the USA
- Must have 2,000 or more hours of experience in nephrology nursing and 20 hours of nephrology nursing continuing education that was completed within the two years prior to applying
- The applicant must pass an exam and pay a fee to obtain this certification.
Certified Nephrology Nurse CNN
The requirements to be able to obtain this certification include:
- The applicant must hold an active unrestricted nursing license in the USA
- Must have 3,000 or more hours of experience in nephrology nursing and 30 hours of approved continuing education credit in past three years and meet requirements for experience working with specific disease processes afflicting patients
- The applicant must pass an exam and pay a fee to obtain this certification
What Does a Nephrology Nurse Do?
Working with patients who are in varying levels of treatment for kidney problems, the nephrology nurse's duties may include prevention, education, and monitoring in a clinic setting all the way to acute treatment in a hospital.
In an outpatient setting such as a dialysis center, nurses perform dialysis. During dialysis, blood is cleansed using a machine removing waste and excess fluid in place of the kidneys. The nurse will perform assessments and monitoring during this procedure as well as provide education.
Nephrology nursing may also include acute care in hospital settings that include stabilization, assessments, symptom management, procedures, surgeries and education.
Nephrology nurses have fine-tuned assessment skills when assessing kidney function as it relates to health and establish effective treatment plans for their patients.
Nephrology Nurse Salary and Employment
Nephrology nurse salaries can vary based on many factors, including setting, location, experience level, education, and more. For a nephrology nurse that has specialized and completed the certification, the salary average is approximately $74,018 per year. This average may decrease for those without the certification, or increase for those in a managerial role.
With the demand for specialty RNs on the rise, the employment outlook for nephrology nurses remains favorable. Employment is expected to continue rising through the next few years, making nephrology nursing a great career prospect.
