American Nephrology Nurses Association’s online tool matches nurses with facilities in COVID-19 pandemic
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The American Nephrology Nurses Association has recently launched an online tool that consists of an interactive map designed to ensure that the areas of greatest need have an adequate number of nephrology nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a press release from the organization, hospitals and other health care facilities can submit information about “their current needs for nephrology nursing staff,” enabling nurses to be sent to these facilities.
Lillian Pryor, MSN, RN, CNN, president of ANNA, elaborated on the performance of the tool, noting that it works for both nurses in search of work and facilities in need of nurses.
“Nurses search the map by state to quickly identify and contact facilities with openings, and facilities also use the map to provide their name, location, type of health care professionals and specific practice areas they need to fill,” she said in the release.
Tamara Kear, PhD, RN, CNN, FAAN, executive director for the organization, added that, “While ANNA is not coordinating placement of nurses and technicians, we are serving as the conduit to make the connections.”
According to the release, the tool was launched after various “states and organizations” indicated the demand for nephrology nurses was increasing due to high reported rates of kidney-related complications in patients admitted to hospitals with the virus. The release cited estimates from Kidney International, which suggest 34% to 63% of these patients experience some form of kidney involvement, with other studies finding 20% to 40% develop kidney failure. With this “sudden upswing” in patients with kidney failure comes a shortage of machines, supplies and health care professionals needed for such emergency treatments, the release noted.
“Patients with kidney failure need nurses with nephrology training, and dialysis requires high-level skills and knowledge,” Kear said. “Once onsite, nephrology nurses can also augment the skills of critical care nurses managing kidney replacement therapies in critical care units."
In addition to the map, Pryor added that ANNA has compiled a list of resources to help nurses find travel packages, with some hotels and airlines offering “free or discounted” rates to “frontline” health care workers during this time.
Kear emphasized this project is a “top priority” for ANNA, concluding, “[W]e are collaborating across the kidney community to meet the current demand. We're continuously updating the map and disseminating information throughout the health care industry."
The “Surge Support” tool can be accessed here: https://www.annanurse.org/covidhelp
Reference:
https://www.annanurse.org/article/covid-surge-support