Nursing Care

Unfortunately, as we do not yet have a cure for Polycystic Kidney Disease, nursing care is focused on symptom management. Here is quick-reference chart outlining nursing care actions for the symptoms that we discussed earlier in this blog:

Symptom	Nursing Care
Hypertension/High Blood Pressure	Education regarding a low salt diet, exercise, smoking cessation, anti-hypertensives
Headache	Ibuprofen, breathing techniques, low lighting, low salt diet, exercise when non-symptomatic for headache (to improve blood flow)
Back and/or Flank Pain	Ibuprofen, heating pads
Increased size of abdomen	Education that this is expected with advancing kidney disease, low salt diet, increasing clear liquids in place of other fluids
Frequent urination, with or without blood	Education regarding scanning for nearest restroom whenever going somewhere new, more fluids in the first half of the day to prevent sleep disturbance related to the need to void, assessing for possible UTI and subsequent provider visit for antibiotics
Kidney Stones	Ibuprofen, heating pads, clear fluids in place of other fluids
Urinary Tract Infection	Make a provider appointment for antibiotics as soon as symptoms begin – such as pain with urination, frequent urination, and blood in the urine

 Healthy, Low-Sodium Eating Plan to assist with Kidney Disease Symptoms

This information was obtained from OvidSP, through Wolters Kluwer Health from our own University of Washington Health Sciences Library, accessible here http://ovidsp.tx.ovid.com.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/sp-3.14.0b/ovidweb.cgi?QS2=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.

This was the most comprehensive information I could find regarding nursing care of chronic kidney diseases. It addresses all symptoms and complaints, with educational nursing care and more complex medical treatments.

Healthy Eating Plate. The Harvard School of Public Health. http://www.montclaircardiology.com/images/healthy-eating-plate.jpg Accessed 26 January 2015.