What Do You Know About Kidney Health?
Published: 27 February 2017
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Published: 27 February 2017
If you are like me, you may have specialised in a particular area of healthcare and had very little renal nursing experience. Perhaps you would like to know a little more about renal nursing, how to care for people with renal issues or how to care for your own kidneys?
Let’s investigate this topic together, in the lead up to World Kidney Day, 9th March 2017.
Firstly, THANK YOU TO ALL THE RENAL NURSES OUT THERE!
Nursing is a complex role that requires special skills and knowledge – and a pretty special person to provide quality nursing care!
1.7 million Australians are believed to have kidney disease, according to Kidney Health Australia (2017). Amazingly, it is suggested that 90% of this 1.7 million consists of people that do not even know that they have the condition (Kidney Health Australia, 2017).
‘While the mortality associated with many chronic diseases including some cancers is stable and even declining, two Australians every hour continue to die with kidney related disease’.
(Kidney Health Australia 2017)
Did you know that your kidneys filter your blood 12 times an hour? Or that you may lose as much as 90% of kidney function before you notice that you have a problem (Victorian Government 2016)?!
(Victorian Government 2016)
(National Kidney Foundation 2016)
12 months experience as a registered nurse in a medical-surgical unit or intensive care unit may be required prior to entering nephrology nursing’ (National Kidney Foundation 2016).
(National Health Service 2015; Health Direct 2015)
Additionally, you may be at risk of kidney disease if you: have already had cardiovascular problems; have a family history of kidney failure; are aged above 60 years; have an acute kidney injury; or, are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander in origin (Victorian Government 2016).
People with chronic kidney disease are placed at double or even triple the risk of cardiovascular complications (Victorian Government, 2016); thereby, conditions such as hyperlipidaemia must be managed effectively (Murphree & Thelen 2010).
Kidney disease is referred to as being chronic when there is ‘persistent kidney damage or a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of <60mL / min / 1.73m2 for at least 3 months’ (Murphree & Thelen 2010).
Potential complications to watch for (Murphree & Thelen 2010):
Peeters et al. (2014) report that ‘additional support by nurse practitioners attenuated the decline of kidney function and improved renal outcome in patients with CKD’.
For people with end-stage kidney disease, an interdisciplinary and person-centred nursing approach is needed that includes renal and palliative care nurses (Kane, Vinen & Murtagh 2013). Aspects such as education, psychological support, advance care planning and management of symptoms, are all important for end-stage kidney disease nursing care (Kane et al. 2013).
As you likely expected, early diagnosis and intervention is key to preventing renal damage or complications. This may be difficult, as kidney disease can be a ‘silent disease’ (Victorian Government, 2016). Diagnosis can involve tests such as: blood tests, imaging, biopsy, and/or urine tests (Victorian Government, 2016). ‘Damaged or inflamed kidneys ‘leak’ substances such as blood or protein into the urine. The preferred test for detecting protein in the urine is a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (urine ACR) test, which shows the amount of albumin (a type of protein) in the urine’. (Victorian Government, 2016).
Blood tests may involve looking for:
You can access help or advice from:
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Madeline Gilkes, CNS, RN, is a <a href="https://www.lifestylemedicine.org.au/fellows" target="_blank">Fellow of the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine</a>. She focussed her master of healthcare leadership research project on health coaching for long-term weight loss in obese adults. In recent years, Madeline has found a passion for preventative nursing, transitioning from leadership roles (CNS Gerontology & Education, Clinical Facilitator) in hospital settings to primary healthcare nursing. Madeline’s vision is to implement lifestyle medicine to prevent and treat chronic conditions. Her brief research proposal for her PhD application involves Lifestyle Medicine for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Madeline is working towards Credentialled Diabetes Educator (CDE) status and primarily works in the role of Head of Nursing. Madeline’s philosophy focuses on using humanistic management, adult learning theories/evidence and self-efficacy theories and interventions to promote positive learning environments. In addition to her Master of Healthcare Leadership, Madeline has a Graduate Certificate in Diabetes Education & Management, Graduate Certificate in Adult & Vocational Education, Graduate Certificate of Aged Care Nursing, and a Bachelor of Nursing. See Educator Profile
A helpful read to reinforce the key concepts of Kidney health
easy reading on important information about Kidney health and relevant statistics provided.
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