Nursing care of predialysis patients receiving epoetin alfa.

Predialysis patients often suffer from debilitating anemia, which is evident through reduced exercise tolerance, weakness, and fatigue as well as lowered hematocrit (HCT). As has been shown in dialysis populations, the anemia of predialysis patients can be treated successfully using Epoetin alfa therapy. Therapy with Epoetin alfa allows patients to resume many of their normal activities and treats the anemia without the need for blood transfusion. The nephrology nurse plays a multifactorial role in the physiologic monitoring and counseling of these patients.