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Goal: To provide an overview of the benefits of educating patients with end stage renal disease on hemodialysis about their disease, diet, treatment, and medication to promote self-management behaviors.

Objectives:

Explain the importance of patient education for individuals with end stage renal disease.
List resources available to assist nephrology nurses with patient education for individuals who are undergoing hemodialysis treatment.
Discuss benefits as outlined in this study for educating patients about their disease, diet, medications, and treatment to promote proper self-management behaviors.

Acknowledgements: This clinical project was completed as a requirement at Georgia Southern University for the Doctor of Nursing Practice program. Kim Lingerfelt would like to acknowledge the clinical project committee members on this project, including Deborah Allen, PhD, FNP-C, committee chair; Rose Mary Gee, PhD, RN, and Kathy Thornton, PhD, RN, committee members. She would also like to thank Dr. Kerri Cavanaugh, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center for permission to utilize the CHeKS instrument for measuring knowledge scores with this project.

Statement of Disclosure: The authors reported no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this continuing nursing education article.

Kathy Thornton

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