A kidney care visit should give patients more than information. It should also give them an opportunity to ask questions, understand what’s happening with their health, and feel confident participating in their care.
That’s the experience Sandy Ahearn, FNP-C, hopes to create as a nurse practitioner with Balboa Nephrology.
Sandy works with our Oceanside care team and currently supports dialysis patients at the Buena Creek and North Coast FMC dialysis clinics. She works closely with Balboa nephrologists and other members of the care team to help patients navigate their kidney health and dialysis care.
“I want my patients to feel heard, informed, and confident in their care. Helping people understand their health needs and empowering them to take an active role in their healthcare is what I find most rewarding.”
Making Room for Questions
Kidney disease and dialysis can bring unfamiliar terminology, changing lab results, medications, and decisions that affect everyday life. Even when patients receive a lot of information, they may still wonder what a result means, why something has changed, or what comes next.
Sandy wants patients to feel comfortable raising those questions. Taking time to listen and explain can help patients better understand their health and feel more prepared for conversations about their care.
Helping Patients Take an Active Role
Being involved in your healthcare can look different for everyone. It might mean bringing questions to a visit, understanding why a medication has changed, talking openly about symptoms, or letting the care team know when something isn’t working.
For Sandy, helping patients build that understanding and confidence is an important part of kidney care. As part of the Balboa Nephrology kidney care team, she works alongside nephrologists and other healthcare professionals to help dialysis patients feel supported and connected throughout their care.
Your nephrologist. Your NP. One connected care team.
Meet Your Kidney Care Team is an ongoing Balboa Nephrology series introducing the nurse practitioners and physician assistants who work alongside our nephrologists throughout the communities we serve. By sharing their perspectives, we hope patients can get to know more of the people involved in their care and better understand how each member of the team supports their kidney health.
