Working with patients dealing with kidney disease, nephrology nurses have been on the front line throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Because many of the patients they work with are immunocompromised,  it is crucial that nephrology nurses are masked to protect themselves and their patients. However, if staff members or patients are deaf or hard of hearing, traditional masks without a clear window can impede communication. Safe’N’Clear is proud to help nephrology nurses change the face of healthcare with The Communicator™. 

Beyond providing safety and a clear window for accessible communication, The Communicator™offers a plethora of benefits for nephrology nurses. Interested in getting face masks with clear windows for your healthcare organization? Here are 4 reasons masks like The Communicator™ benefit nephrology nurses. 

1. Provides Protection for Nephrology Nurses Working in a Variety of Environments 

While many nephrology nurses work in medical institutions where patients come for dialysis, many also provide in-home care. In fact, according to the USRDS’s 2021 Report, 

“From 2009 to 2019, the percentage of incident dialysis patients performing home dialysis increased from 6.8% to 12.6%.”

Traveling to different homes and even different healthcare facilities, nephrology nurses need PPE that can protect both them and their patients. As the CDC reported with their 2022 study, comorbidities such as chronic kidney disease have a “higher risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes.” That means that when nurses go to different locations to provide care, they need to be able to assist their patients safely. In addition, because nurses may have some of the comorbidities originally listed by the CDC themselves, masking is crucial to stay safe 

The Communicator™ Surgical face mask, in particular, is a single-use disposable mask intended to be worn in the operating room as well as dental, isolation, and other medical procedures to protect both the patient and healthcare personnel from the transfer of microorganisms, body fluids, and particulate material. Wearing The Communicator™mask while performing care for patients with kidney disease can provide a high level of protection while bolstering connection and communication. 

2. Allows Nurses to Communicate Clearly with Patients 

Nursing is all about communication. Whether talking to patients through care or answering questions about medications and procedures, a big part of nurses’ crucial work is communicating with their patients. As Lambrini Kourkouta and Ioanna V. Papathanasiou, in their 2014 paper, Communication in Nursing Practice, explain, 

“Nursing as a health care science, focuses on serving the needs of human as a biopsychosocial and spiritual being. Its practice requires not only scientific knowledge, but also interpersonal, intellectual and technical abilities and skills. This means a composition of knowledge, clinical work and interpersonal communication. Communication is a vital element in Nursing in all areas of activity and in all its interventions such as prevention, treatment, therapy, rehabilitation, education and health promotion. The nursing process moreover as a scientific method of exercise and implementation of Nursing, is achieved through dialogue, through interpersonal environment and with specific skills of verbal communication”

Using a mask with a clear window like The Communicator™, nurses can more easily speak and communicate with their patients. By having access to more facial expressions and the mouth being seen, nurses can communicate that much more effectively. Even while wearing masks, easier communication will improve patient outcomes and understanding. 

3. Builds Trust and Connection with Patients Receiving Dialysis 

Beyond simple communication, the bonds nurses build with their patients are vital. Often regularly giving dialysis treatments and kidney disease-related care, nephrology nurses often see their patients at their most vulnerable. That is why building trust and connection with patients is crucial. As David Walz explains in his feature in the Nephrology Nursing Journal on in-home care, 

“Involving the nephrology registered nurse at the beginning of the process leads to the development of a professional nurse-patient relationship that fosters trust, familiarity, and communication. This is an important step in identifying learning needs and managing patient therapy challenges. Early identification of challenges and learning needs is imperative to long-term therapy success and sustainability” 

Nephrology nurses are irreplaceable and need to be able to make these connections to prove the best possible care. Only through connection and trust can these nurses identify issues with treatment and help their patients get the most out of dialysis treatments. To build that connection and trust, having a mask that can allow nurses to communicate with patients fully is crucial. When nurses can see the pain on their patient’s faces, they can also evaluate patient needs better. When both parties wear a surgical mask with a clear window, the line of communication is easier. The Communicator™ enables nephrology nurses with the protection needed to serve patients with kidney disease while also opening up communication. With these critical features, nurses can build needed trust with their patients. 

4. Bolsters Accessibility for Both Nephrology Nurses and Patients 

Finally, using a mask like The Communicator™ allows kidney disease treatments and dialysis sessions to be much more accessible. Many healthcare workers and patients may have hearing loss or may be deaf, so having an ADA-accessible mask can make your work more accessible and inclusive. According to the World Health Organization, 

“Over 5% of the world’s population – or 430 million people – require rehabilitation to address their ‘disabling’ hearing loss (432 million adults and 34 million children). It is estimated that by 2050 over 700 million people – or one in every ten people – will have disabling hearing loss”.

When using a mask with a clear window, people who rely on lip reading to communicate will be able to truly be a part of the conversation. In addition, if you serve patients or have staff who are on the Autism spectrum, who rely on more facial expressions and body language for better communication, you can be sure to provide accessible communication for them as well. The Communicator™, or another mask like it, can ensure everyone is part of the conversation and result in even better health outcomes. 

Ready to Order The Communicator™ for Your Healthcare Organization?

Of course, these are just a couple of reasons surgical masks with clear windows can be helpful for nephrology nurses in your healthcare organization. If you are ensuring that your facility has all the PPE needed in the coming year, Safe‘N’Clear hopes you will consider The Communicator™ for your masking needs. 

Safe‘N’Clear markets The Communicator™ surgical face mask with clear window, which is the first FDA-approved medical face mask. The mask is 100% sourced and made in the USA and ADA-effective, allowing healthcare facilities to serve patients with accessible, transparent, and clear communication. The Communicator™ is also approved by Health Canada and Europe’s CE mark; The Communicator™ is definitely the best medical-grade mask quality-wise and communication-wise. If you are ready to get started, shop The Communicator™ mask here. You can also learn all about Safe’N’Clear here.