Management

Kidney Failure: Your Healthcare Team

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Your healthcare team is made up of people who help you manage your kidney treatment. They work with you to:

  • Talk about your treatment choices

  • Teach you how to live with kidney failure

  • Help with any questions or worries

  • Support you

  • Help you feel your best

Portrait of two healthcare providers.


The members of your team

Here are some people you might meet on your healthcare team:

Nephrologist. A doctor who treats kidney problems. They decide what treatment is best for you and check how it’s working.

Primary care doctor. A doctor who helps you stay healthy. They also treat you when you are sick or have long-term health problems.

Advanced practitioner. This can be a nurse practitioner (NP) or a physician assistant (PA). They work with your kidney doctor or primary care doctor.

Registered nurse (RN). A nurse who works with your doctors. They help manage your care and teach you about your treatment. Some nurses also give dialysis treatments.

Dialysis technician. A person who helps give you dialysis treatment.

Surgeon. A doctor who does surgery. They may place a dialysis access or do a kidney transplant.

Dietitian or nutritionist. A person who teaches you which foods and drinks are good for you and which ones to avoid.

Social worker. A person who helps with paperwork, insurance, work, family, and stress.

Pharmacist. A person who knows all about your medicines. They teach you how and when to take them and what side effects to watch for.

© 2000-2026 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.
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