Course ID: FQUEWU503
Course Name: Nursing Management of Continuous Renal Replacement Therapies in the ICU Setting
Credits: 2

This two-contact hour home-study continuing education program describes current continuous renal replacement therapies (CRRT) modes. The principles and components of CRRT are presented, along with nursing interventions and implications. General guidelines for the ICU nursing staff to utilize in maintaining the prescribed CRRT in collaboration with the dialysis nurse expert are also discussed.

About the Author
Lualhati Lawyer, RN, MS
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Veterans Administration Medical Center
West Palm Beach, FL

Ms. Lualhati Lawyer received her Nursing Diploma from the University of the Philippines, (Quezon City, Philippines) her bachelor's degree from Barry University (Miami, Florida) and her Master of Science Degree, major in Nursing, from Florida Atlantic University (Boca Raton, Florida). Ms. Lawyer has been involved in the care of the renal patient since 1977. She developed the 5-week Hemodialysis course for Florida Medical Center, Ft Lauderdale Florida, and taught the course from 1979-1982. She worked in the capacity of charge nurse, nurse manager, administrator and DON for dialysis facilities from 1976-2000. She worked as the clinical nurse researcher in 1986, under grant and guidance of Drs. Neil Schneider and Robert Geronemus, to study and develop the CAVHD (continuous arterio-venous hemodialysis) mode of dialysis therapy. The clinical trials and patient outcome of this study, as described by Ms. Lawyer, was published in 1989. Immediately after the grant expired, Ms. Lawyer worked as a consultant for the grant benefactor (Hospal Medical Corporation), teaching the CAVHD mode of therapy to different critical care units nationwide. From 1994-2000, she worked as the administrator and DON of an outpatient dialysis unit. (Fresenius Medical Corporation). Ms. Lawyer has maintained her critical care experience and dialysis experience by working at many critical care units and by providing ongoing critical care renal review courses in the state of Florida. Currently, Ms. Lawyer holds a full time position as a Clinical Nurse Specialist at the VA WPB Medical center. She continues to practice in critical care units and dialysis units on a per-diem basis.

Course Objectives
Upon completion of this home-study continuing education program, the learner will be able to:

1. Differentiate conventional dialysis therapies from CRRT.
2. Enumerate and differentiate at least five different types of CRRT modes.
3. Illustrate and discuss two main principles involved in CRRT.
4. Discuss patient characteristics and clinical applications of CRRT.
5. Enumerate five components of CRRT.
6. Review the nursing actions and implications with CRRT.