Kidney Failure: Your Healthcare Team

The members of your healthcare team are the people who work with you to manage your treatment. They will guide you through your choices and teach you how to live with kidney failure. They can also address your concerns and give you support. Work with your team to ensure that you feel your best.

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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.