The Nursing Role in a Renal Out-Patient Service

Abstract

The article defines the nursing role in a renal out-patient service, enhancing all nursing activities from patient first contact to transplant follow up. It presents a complex nursing role that, on top of basic knowledge, should possess a specific renal culture acquired from experience and continue education. Specific areas of advanced nursing competence are presented: health education, CKD prevention of complications, clinical research support, transplant evaluation process and follow up care. Particular attention is given to multidisciplinary and team work in order to get the patient and his/her family into the right pathway of care, focusing to illness overcome. In the out-patients contest greater attention could be given to transplant list process and living organ donation, bringing a better time management, cost effectiveness for NHS and improved quality of life for patient and his/her family setting.