Getting a kidney transplant involves much more than finding an organ and having the surgery. The process is complicated, lengthy and involves several medical professionals working in concert to achieve transplant success. Nurses — both dialysis and transplant — perform an integral role in the kidney transplant process from beginning to end.

As a critical part of a patient’s journey, nurses are responsible for a variety of kidney patient care aspects, including education. Dialysis nurses not only educate patients on dialysis modalities but offer knowledge on transplant as a treatment option and assist in communication and coordination with transplant center teams.

DaVita dialysis nurse Samran Batara says he find deep value in educating patients on modality options an encouraging them to pursue a kidney transplant or other option best suited to their lifestyle. “I get inspired whenever my patients intently listen and actively participate when we conduct health education on how to better care for their health and ultimately improve their quality of life,” Batara says.

At transplant centers, there are several team players that can vary from center to center, but transplant nurses are essential to the process and patient education. Transplant nurses are involved in every step of the transplant process and often have the most contact with patients, both organ donors and recipients. In addition to clinical nursing, these nurses educate patients and their families on the entire transplant process:

• Eligibility and evaluation
• Pre-transplant health and lifestyle (including medication adherence)
• Organ matching and waitlists
• Procedures and transplantation surgery
• Post-operative care and recovery
• How to mitigate organ rejection and help safeguard transplant success

Dialysis and transplant nurses have nursing degrees and often advanced degrees as well as special certifications. This coupled with continuing education empowers nurses to provide patients with education on the latest in kidney care and treatment options, including transplantation. “Being a nurse has always been my passion,” Samran says. “I am encouraged by helping, educating and teaching my patients about how they can take better care of their health and improve their lives.”

Learn more about kidney transplant, the process, care team roles and more at DaVita.com/Transplant.