What is a critical nursing intervention for patients beginning dialysis?

Assessing the patient's vital signs and weight before and after dialysis is crucial because it helps to ensure the patient's safety and effectiveness of the treatment. Monitoring vital signs allows the nurse to detect any immediate changes in the patient's condition that could indicate complications, such as hypotension or fluid overload, which are common occurrences during dialysis.

Weighing the patient before and after the procedure provides valuable information regarding fluid removal and helps to verify that the dialysis session effectively removes excess fluids, which is essential for managing patients with renal failure who often have issues with fluid balance.

Overall, this vital assessment can guide the healthcare team in making necessary adjustments in the treatment plan based on the patient's response to the dialysis process.