ANNA Member Spotlight
Welcome to ANNA's monthly member spotlight. ANNA is a vibrant organization because of nurses like you! Your diverse experiences and unique perspectives make us a collective whole that is a masterpiece. We are proud of the work each of you do!
If you would like to be featured, participate in our online community, ANNA Connected. Members are featured in the Member Spotlight based on their engagement in ANNA Connected, so start connecting, talking, and getting to know other ANNA members via ANNA Connected.
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Tariro Trish Dzangare, BSN, RN, CDNDialysis Nurse |
How long have you been a nurse?
I have been a nurse for 13 years.
How long have you been in nephrology ?
I have been in nephrology for 8 years.
What is unique about nephrology nursing?
Nephrology nursing encompasses all the body systems, and you must be on top of your critical thinking skills to achieve better patient outcomes.
What do you value most about your ANNA membership?
The resources that are at hand when you need them. The community that is a click away when you feel stuck and need recommendations or clarity on a topic.
Do you have a favorite patient story?
In 2020, during the peak of COVID while working at a private hospital in the Bahamas, I got a call while dialyzing a patient to go to the ICU to learn how to use a new device. I was wondering what access the staff could show me that I have not seen before. What a miscalculation on my part considering the new accesses which are being innovated daily! When I arrived at the ICU, I saw a man in isolation hooked to many lines. All I could see were lines all over this man. He had recently been diagnosed with COVID, was a diabetic, obese, in cardiac failure, and suffering from acute kidney injury. He was hooked up to an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine. I had never seen a patient on an ECMO machine, and now I had to do dialysis by connecting to the extracorporeal lines on the ECMO. How cool was that?! So, I hooked him up and it was a smooth session. His original nurse forgot how to connect the machine, and I used the knowledge learned from a session I attended at the ANNA Fall Conference the year before in San Diego. I connected the dialysis lines perfectly. For a month, we pushed dialysis with this man until his kidneys kicked in. He was taken off the ECMO, extubated, and had a tracheostomy tube inserted. I remember sitting in his room, and the only thing that kept this man going was his daughter's portrait. We would put on motivational audios and chat away on the board. He was on a lot of physiotherapy, walked out of the hospital fully recovered, and is no longer dialysis dependent. I had the opportunity to be part of this patient success story. Today, the man is on a weight loss journey and is grateful at a second chance at life.
What would you tell a newly practicing nurse about nephrology nursing?
It always seems impossible until it is done. Things can be daunting at first but keep at it and practice at every opportunity. A muscle not used atrophies. The same is true for skills acquired and left unused. There are many modalities in nephrology. If one modality is not your piece of cake, move on to explore the next modality. Dialysis is fun and rewarding spiritually, socially, and intellectually. We get a chance to walk not just with our patients but with their families, too. Be kind and considerate. It always pays.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not working as a nurse?
I enjoy reading, cooking, baking, travelling, and spending time with my family. A friend of mine advised me to quit my day job and get into full-time cooking (chuckles).
Share an interesting fact about yourself.
I love empowering people. I strive to leave people better than I found them.