Virgin Islands

Nephrology nursing is a unique specialty that offers varied employment opportunities in hospitals, ambulatory dialysis centers, or private clinics. Even though more individuals are suffering from diabetes and other problems associated with kidney disease, only a few graduate educational programs exist that focus on this nursing specialty.

The majority of nurses who choose to enter this specific field are educated on the job. Training and education usually takes place in an acute care setting such as an intensive care or a dialysis unit. Private dialysis clinics are also known to train registered nurses who wish to become nephrology nurses. In general, nephrology nursing educational programs offered by private facilities may take more than two months to complete. Courses focus on anatomy, physiology, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and transplantation.

Clinical training and hands-on practice is accomplished under the supervision of a knowledgeable preceptor. To obtain a position as a nephrology nurse one should have a minimum of one year of work experience in a medical-surgical or critical care nursing unit.