The Role of the Nurse in Clinical Practice

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by Galina Tulatos

Through the partnership program, we have been able to enhance the role of the nurse in clinical practice, particularly in the Department of Kidney Transplantation and Hemodialysis.

Our nurses are now familiar with methods of treatment following kidney transplants, post-operative care, and methods of meeting patients' nutritional needs. We understand the techniques of donor blood conservation, have improved our skills in the use of hemodialysis, and have enhanced our infection control program.

We are especially proud of our treatment of patients with immune suppression following kidney transplants. These patients present special challenges to us in preventing exposure to organisms that would decrease their immune status further.

We are now using the same techniques of patient preparation that our partners at Hennepin County Medical Center employ. This means that the system of scrubbing hands and prepping for surgery is consistent with US standards. Our instruments are arranged in specially prepared boxes for kidney transplant and arteriovenous fistula operations. Post-operative management of these patients has improved in quality.

In addition, because we have improved our potential for identifying nosocomial infections and have taken precautionary measures, we have improved the care of patients with infections, or with the possibility of developing infection.

We are proud of our program and the role that nurses have played in implementing these changes. Simple changes in clinical practice, combined with education, have contributed to this success.

Galina Tulatos is Head Nurse at Republican Clinical Hospital, Chisinau, Moldova tel: (0422) 72 86 88

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