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Goal: Describe current hemodialysis (HD) catheter usage and complications in North America, and provide an overview of the research and recommendations for nephrology nursing in caring for those patients, adult and pediatric, who use a catheter for HD.

Objectives:

Discuss the current need for and complications of hemodialysis (HD) catheter usage.
Discuss current challenges of HD catheter care and the nephrology nursing process using those guidelines and recommendations.
Define "best practices" and describe current recommended practices for both prevention and treatment of catheter-related complications in adults and children.
Describe the team approach and continuous quality improvement (CQI) process in implementing these recommendations.

Note: This article is supported by an educational grant from Genentech.

Statements of Disclosure: Lesley C. Dinwiddie has disclosed that she is on the Genentech Speakers' Bureau and is also a consultant for Hemosphere Inc., Teleflex Medical, and Covidien.

Cynthia Bhola reported no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this continuing nursing education article.

Cynthia Bhola

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