Dietary Adjustments for Dialysis Patients

A certified medical-surgical nurse, Susanne Marie Capozzi is a staff registered nurse with Davita Dialysis in New Jersey. Since 2018, Susanne Capozzi has provided care for admitted dialysis patients in the centers. As part of her work, she counsels patients regarding dietary restrictions and fluid management.

Dialysis is performed when a patient’s kidneys are no longer able to remove enough fluid and wastes from their blood as needed. Often, this happens when the kidneys have damaged to a point where there is only 10 to 15 percent of functionality left. At an early stage, this may result in the patient experiencing fatigue, vomiting, nausea, and swelling. However, a patient can have a high level of wastes in their blood without symptoms for some time.

Specific diets rich in protein and low in sodium, phosphorus, and potassium are recommended for patients undergoing dialysis. Low fluid intake is also recommended. If a patient has other health conditions in addition to kidney failure, such as diabetes, additional restrictions may be specified.

The NJSNA Praises New Federal Funding for Gun Violence Research

A staff nurse with Davita Dialysis in Paterson, New Jersey, Susanne Marie Capozzi is working towards a master of science in nursing and certification as an adult and gerontology nurse practitioner. To inform her work, Susanne Capozzi holds active membership in multiple professional organizations, including the New Jersey State Nurses Association.

Comprised of more than 110,000 registered/advanced practice nurses, the New Jersey State Nurses Association (NJSNA) spearheads a range of educational, networking, assistance, and advocacy initiatives. The organization recently applauded a new federal appropriation of funding for research into gun violence.

As part of a comprehensive spending plan, the US House of Representatives officially earmarked significant funds for gun violence research on December 17, 2019. Specifically, they granted $12.5 million in research funds to the Centers for Disease Control and $12.5 million in research funds to the National Institutes of Health.

Having advocated for this funding since 2016, the NJSNA praised this appropriation for its potential to help curb mass shootings and overall gun violence in New Jersey and across the United States. As NJSNA president Kate Gillespie put it, gun violence “certainly has an impact” on the allocation of resources within the health care sector.