WHO SHOULD MANAGE CRRT IN THE ICU - THE NURSING VIEWPOINT

Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is performed in critical c are units around the world with various levels of involvement from cri tical care and nephrology nurses. In this article, factors affecting t he delivery of nursing care and the particular expertise nephrology an d critical care nurses have in the area of CRRT are examined, Based on this discussion, three proposed models of nursing care for the patien t receiving CRRT are discussed: the Nephrology Nursing Model, the Crit ical Care Model, and the Collaborative Model. Based on related researc h findings and a comparison of the models, the Collaborative Model is the preferred one, as it brings the highest level of expertise directl y to the patient, For the Collaborative Model to work, a framework for collaboration and a high degree of commitment from both specialties m ust be maintained. (C) 1997 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.