Hemodialysis teaching protocols: an educational tool for both patients and nurses.

The goal of our dynamic progressive care unit patient education program was to empower hemodialysis patients to learn to be as independent in their hemodialysis treatments as their condition permitted, whether in the home or in the clinical setting. The paradigm shift that has placed patient education at the centre of health care has necessitated a practice change for both patients and nurses. In response to this change and to assist us to achieve our goal, a set of 14 hemodialysis teaching protocols has been developed. Individual protocols address specific aspects of the management of hemodialysis treatments and implementation, and are based upon the nursing process. Each protocol has an accompanying documentation and evaluation tool and can be used as an indicator for continuous quality improvement. Our success to date is evident in the placement of patients along the continuum of limited self-care starting in the progressive care unit and continuing to achieve increased independence by dialyzing in their own homes as part of the home hemodialysis program.