.

Guarding Against Hidden Hemolysis During Dialysis: An Overview
Paula Dutka, MSN, RN, CNN

If you have ever doubted the power of the written word, I would like to tell you about my recent experience and the very positive results it created. It all began from a negative adverse situation that we experienced in our hemodialysis unit: covert hemolysis. It was something that we had always known was a potential complication of the process of hemodialysis but none of us – despite our lengthy nephrology careers – had ever experienced. Based on this and hearing of similar hemolysis incidents from colleagues, I felt compelled to spread the word and heighten other professionals’ awareness of this old problem rearing its head with a presentation different from what we had all learned – so I wrote a case study detailing our experiences. Interestingly, another nephrology nurse, Liz Harman, had eerily similar experiences in her unit and had also submitted a case study to the Nephrology Nursing Journal (NNJ). Both of our case studies were published in the March-April 2007 issue of NNJ. Much to my surprise, shortly after the publication, Ms. Harman and I were contacted by the EDTNA/ERCA Journal Club. The manager of this European On-Line Journal Club, Ms. Gareth Murcutt, contacted us to inquire if we would be willing to have our case studies reviewed and commented on as was suggested by one of the club’s prominent members. Imagine, your words and thoughts being taken to an international forum! What could be more exciting and rewarding – especially in light of the fact that the impetus for publishing these case studies was to increase awareness of the potential covert danger of hemolysis? After agreeing, we experienced a very easy process of participation and the excitement of sharing information and experiences with colleagues from as far reaching as Prague in the Czech Republic and Valencia, Spain. The communications and exchange of information back and forth through and stimulated by the EDTNA/ERCA Journal Club manager, were extremely enlightening and invigorating. It opened the flow of new avenues of thoughts and ideas that I had never connected before. As a result of this experience, I again feel compelled to get another word out, which is that many of us have professional thoughts, practices, and experiences that others can learn and grow from. Putting them on paper cannot only affect practices within the shores of our own country as Liz Harman and I experienced, but it can also open an even larger door to the International world. We were very proud to have had this opportunity and thankful to the EDTNA/ ERCA Journal Club for inviting us to open this U.S.-European connection for the first time. We will all always have one commonality – our renal patients and one common goal – safe, quality patient care. What a small world that can be!