Our facility is understaffed. What are some creative ways that we can provide AV fistula education for our patients?
Many resources are available for patients and their families such as the Patient Resource List and Staff Resource List. The National Kidney Foundation’s Kidney Learning System is also an excellent resource. Switching to an AV fistula (AVF) can require a change in attitude on the part of patients and staff, and everyone needs to understand the associated benefits. You may want to invite current fistula patients, who have made a positive adjustment to treatment, to share their stories about why and how they chose to have an AV fistula. They could also share their feelings about their perceived and actual improved outcomes. This patient-to-patient discussion could be done in either a group or one-on-one setting, or by pairing up patients with and without AVF. It’s important to remember that patients should not be giving health care/medical advice!
Related Questions
- How can health care professionals convince patients to have an AV fistula and accept the long maturation period, and possibly one or more catheters as well?
- Some patients refuse to have an AV fistula because they don’t like the look of a bulging fistula. How do we deal with such body image issues?
- Our facility is understaffed. What are some creative ways that we can provide AV fistula education for our patients?
