Loretta Jackson Brown, PhD, RN, CNN

Patients with chronic kidney disease are more likely to be prescribed opioids for pain associated with chronic conditions and comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension. This session will review the recommendations in the CDC Guideline for Prescription of Opioids for Chronic Pain, which will assist nephrology nurses to provide safer and more effective chronic pain treatment options, improve opioid prescribing practices, and reduce the number of patients with opioid use disorder, opioid misuse, or opioid-related harm.

Lucy Todd, MSN, ACNP-BC, CNN

Urgent start PD is being used increasingly for individuals in need of acute dialysis. This session will provide an overview of urgent start PD, including when it should be introduced, for which patients, nursing implications, patient care requirements, and the pathophysiologic changes associated with this treatment modality. The takeaway will be an understanding of the differences among urgent start, early start, and traditional start PD.

Brenda Wiggins, BSN, RN

A how-to guide on acquiring organizational skills and tips to improve workflow when managing PD patients. Learn how to effectively manage your time, build a nurse toolkit of resources, and strategically navigate through unexpected events that may occur during the day.

Sharon Bragg, DNP, RN, CCRN

What are nurse residency programs and why are they becoming increasingly important in today’s work environment? This session will answer these questions and provide an overview of nurse residency programs, including benefits to specialty areas, costs, suggestions for marketing, and the necessary program evaluation process.

Melissa Anderson, MD

Liver disease is often noted in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This session will review risk factors and the development of liver failure in patients with CKD as well as diagnostic evaluation and therapeutic management in outpatient and inpatient settings. The discussion will wrap up with a focus on the challenges of managing advanced liver failure and advanced CKD.

Ann Mancini, MSN, RN, FNP

This presentation will provide you with a fundamental overview of the peritoneal membrane anatomy and physiology. Additionally, a review of the peritoneal transport process, PD solutions, membrane transport variability and how they relate to the PET will be discussed.

Kristin Larson, MSN, RN, AGNP-BC

Have you worked with a patient who stated: “My neighbor said I should take these supplements because they will make me better.” What was your response? This session will address this scenario and provide tips for how nephrology nurses can handle conversations with patients about herbals and supplements and their potential impact on kidney health.

Paul Bennett, PhD, MHSM, BN, RN, GCertSc

Patient activation – the willingness and ability of a person to manage their healthcare – provides nephrology nurses with a concept and measurement tool to classify people with kidney disease into various activation levels. Applying an individualized approach to patients based on their activation level may increase patients’ self-care and self-management of their disease process.