Perceptions by medical/surgical nurses of hospitalized dialysis patients

The purpose of this study was to determine the perception by medical/surgical nurses of hospitalized dialysis patients. The results, tabulated from a demographic sheet and a 33-item questionnaire, revealed a positive attitude towards end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients by the staff of the facility where the study took place. The factors of age, nursing experience, and education were examined relative to this perception. The majority of the respondents indicated a strong desire to learn more about the needs of ESRD patients. In addition to the results, a valid and reliable tool for measuring nurses' perception of hospitalized dialysis patients was developed.