Experiences of Nephrology Nurses in Assessing and Managing Pain in Patients Receiving Maintenance Hemodialysis.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major health problem. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe nephrology nurses' experiences in assessing and managing pain in patients who were receiving maintenance hemodialysis at outpatient units within a tertiary care institution. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven nurses, and a thematic analysis was used to analyze data. Themes emerged related to the complexity of pain assessment and management in these patients, who were often elderly. Nurses had to ascertain whether the pain was related to hemodialysis treatment, renal failure, or comorbidities. Nurses described managing pain within the context of the hemodialysis unit, and this required working as a team. Nurses also described the need for a palliative approach in patient care.