Who is primarily responsible for home dialysis training?

• A. Nurses
• B. Physicians
• C. PCTs
• D. Administrative Staff

Answer: (A)

Nurses, particularly a PD nurse educator, are the ones who train patients and caregivers for home dialysis. They bring the clinical expertise needed to teach and evaluate the hands-on skills essential for safe home therapy, such as sterile technique, performing exchanges, catheter care, and handling supplies. They also teach safety procedures, infection prevention, troubleshooting common problems, and recognizing warning signs that require medical attention. Importantly, they assess competency with return demonstrations and ensure the patient and caregiver are confident and capable before starting home dialysis, with ongoing support and follow-up as needed.

Physicians provide medical oversight and orders but don’t usually lead the practical training. While a patient care technician and other staff can support, the formal, hands-on training and competency assessment come from the nurse educator. Administrative staff handle logistics and scheduling, not clinical training.