BANGALORE: St John’s Medical College Hospital, Bangalore, is organising a peritoneal dialysis training programme for nurses from August 23 to August 28
The five-day residential training workshop open to certified nurses addresses the techniques of peritoneal dialysis and patient management
“The purpose of the programme is to build competence for management of peritoneal dialysis patients
The nurses get trained on the different aspects of therapy, thereby setting the standards of care
Post the training, these nurses train patients to follow the regimen and take charge of their own treatment,” said Dr Gokulnath, head nephrologist, St John’s Medical College Hospital who pioneered the programme
He further added, “Through live demonstration as well as hands-on training, we are sure that this will be of great benefit to the nurses who are looking forward to working with the nephrology departments of various hospitals across the country
Peritoneal dialysis is a fast picking therapy amongst ESRD patients in the country and this course will help in bridging the need of trained professionals for the same.” The programme has been specifically developed by Dr Gokulnath in consultation with other experts
After successfully conducting the programme since 2009, this will be the third batch of the training programme at St John’s Hospital
The participants of the last two training programmes are all employed full time as nurses in various nephrology centres across the country where they manage peritoneal dialysis patients
The training programme has given nursing staff a better understanding of peritoneal dialysis and better patient care
About Peritoneal Dialysis
■Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is fast emerging as the treatment of choice for end-stage renal disease patients seeking independence, quality of life, and for those who do not have access to HD facilities
■It is effective because peritoneal dialysis is daily continuous dialysis, allowing for better preservation of residual kidney function as compared to hemodialysis (HD) — which is conducted three times a week in a hospital or clinic
Peritoneal dialysis can be done in remote areas so even the masses can avail this therapy
■ For children below eight years, CAPD is the preferred form of treatment as their week bodies do not adapt well to HD
There are less dietary constraints for patients undergoing PD as compared to HD
■ Unlike hemodialysis, there is no re-use of disposables in peritoneal dialysis with the quality of CAPD solutions being consistent across the world
It can be done at home by the patients themselves on a daily basis