Your Hemodialysis Care Team

When the time comes to go on dialysis, your nephrologist (kidney doctor) will order the specifics of your dialysis treatment and prescribe any medication you may need. He or she will also carefully monitor your progress during treatment and make any necessary adjustments. 

Your clinical manager is a registered nurse (RN) in charge of the dialysis center. He or she supervises all of your care team members and ensures that you are getting the care you need.

Your dialysis nurse supervises your in-center hemodialysis treatment as prescribed by your nephrologist and works closely with your patient care technician (PCT) to administer your treatment. If you have questions about your treatment or lab results, your nurse can be a great resource of knowledge.

From the moment you walk into the center to the time you leave, your PCT will be with you nearly every step of the way. Working under the direction of your nurse, he or she will help administer your dialysis treatment and make sure you have everything you need to make your stay as comfortable as possible.

Learning how to manage your life with dialysis can be overwhelming at first, but it is still possible to thrive. Your social worker can help you with insurance, work, travel and financial concerns—and even refer you to dialysis support groups that can help you cope with the emotional ups and downs that come with life with ESRD. 

While it’s always important to make healthy food choices, you’ll need to make some specific choices that are good for your kidneys and help with the process of dialysis. Your renal (kidney) dietitian will develop a customized meal plan that is gentle on your kidneys and provides the key nutrients your body needs. You may be surprised to find out just how delicious your new meal plan can be. Check out these tasty recipes by Chef Aaron McCargo, Jr.!