Module Description
s
Title:
Advanced Renal Nursing Level 6
Code:
NH 362
Level:
6
Credit rating:
30
Pre-requisites:
Professional Practice Framework entry requirements apply

Registered nurses will normally have one year post registration
experience working in an area where care is provided to people
with End Stage Renal failure.

Successful completion of Foundations in Renal Care module and
Introduction to dialysis and kidney transplant module
Type of module:
Extensive over one semester
Aims:
The module aims to provide the student with the advanced clinical
renal nursing skills and the academic and professional
knowledge required to work competently with patients that are
undergoing renal investigations and renal replacement
therapies. It is also an aim to encourage student commitment
to evidence-based practice and effective participation in the
delivery of multi-disciplinary patient-centered care in a clinical
renal setting.
Learning
outcomes/objectives:
The student will be able to:
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Provide competent nursing care to patients undergoing renal
replacement therapies and complex investigations underpinned by
the appropriate knowledge to the level set.
Explore and critically discuss strategies for psycho-social support
of individuals with end-stage renal failure, taking into account the
role of the renal counselor
Critically analyse the ethical dilemmas in renal replacement
therapy, conservative treatment and kidney transplantation for
health care workers, patients, and their families and friends.
Evaluate the environmental issues related to renal replacement
therapies and disposal of substances.
Critically reflect upon and evaluate the appropriateness of
different approaches to renal replacement therapy for individual
patients.
Evaluate the quality assurance mechanisms and strategies
employed to monitor effective delivery of care in renal replacement
therapy units
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Reflect upon and select appropriate support and teaching
strategies for patients, their families and friends, junior staff and
assistants in the renal setting.
Demonstrate competence in the specific skills required for
Advanced Renal Nursing using evidence based practice.
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Content
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Social, political and environmental issues related to renal
replacement therapy for patients and their families and friends
Impact of psychological and sexual health upon patient well-being
Pharmacology for patients undergoing renal replacement therapy
Dialysis adequacy and technical methods of enhancement
Surgical procedures and management of dialysis access
Therapeutic compliance and the role of the nurse in health
promotion
Diagnostic, therapeutic and technological development related to
all aspects of renal replacement therapy
National and local polices for the management of resources, in
funding renal replacement therapy
Law, ethics and professional issues related to renal replacement
therapy, cadaveric and live-related transplantation
Quality assurance issues related to:
standard setting
benchmarking practice and outcomes
national and local audit strategies
evidence based practice

Skills required for advanced nursing practice to include teaching
patients, junior nursing staff and assistants
 National Service Framework for renal services
Module hours
Teaching and learning
strategies:
90 hours taught
100 hours student directed learning
110 hours learning in practice to include assessment of practice.
Total 300 hours
Teaching and learning strategies will include keynote delivery from
specialists in practice, small group discussions and seminar
presentations. A key feature of the learning strategies will be the
exploration of examples from practice to relate theories and concepts
to renal replacement therapy.
Placement visit to a transplant centre.
Mentors in practice will facilitate learning in the clinical environment.
Indicative reading:
Learning Support:
Akoh, J. and N. Akim. 2001. Dialysis access- current practice.
Imperial College Press, London
Brown E. and Parfrey P. 1999. Complications of long terms dialysis.
Oxford Clinical Nephrology Series, Oxford
Danovich Gabriel. 2004. Handbook of Kidney Transplantion.
Lippincott Williams Wilkins, London
Daurgirdas. J., Blake, P. and Ing T. 2001. Handbook of Dialysis. A
Little Brown Book, Philadelphia
Department of Health. 2004. The National Service Framework for
Renal Services. DoH, London
Horl, W. 2003. Replacement of renal function by dialysis. Kluwer
Academic Publishers, Dordrecht
Levinsky, N. 2001. Ethics and the kidney. Oxford: Oxford
University Press
Locatelli, L. 2004. Principle and Practice of Renal Dialysis. Taylor
& Francis Publishers, Abingdon
Ronco, C. 2004. Hemodialysis vascular access and peritoneal
dialysis access. Karger Publishers, Basel
Nissenseon, A. 2004. Clinical Dialysis. 3rd Edition. Appleton and
Lange, Connecticut
Sweney, P. 2003. The infectious complications of renal disease.
Oxford: Oxford University Press
Steiner, R. 2003. Educating, Evaluating and Selecting Living
Kidney Donors. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht
Thomas, N. 2004. Advanced Renal Care. Oxford Blackwell
Publishing, Oxford
The Renal Association. 2002. Treatment of Adults and Children with
renal failure: recommended standards and audit measures. Third
Edition. Royal College of Physicians, London
www.kidneywise.com
www.nephronline.org
www.kidneypatientguide.org.uk/site/contents.html
Journals
American Nephrology Nurse’s Association Journal
British Journal of Renal Medicine
European Dialysis and Transplantation Nurse’s Association Journal
There is an assessment of both theory and practice.
Assessment Task:
Theory 50%
Students will be required to complete a 3,000 word assignment.
This assignment will focus on the critical comparative analysis of two
forms of treatment for end-stage renal failure taking into account the
rationale for these choices of treatment for individual patients and to
consider such issues as resources and clinical suitability.
Practice 50%
Students are required to successfully pass 10 mandatory skills.
These will be assessed by an assessor in practice.
NB. A 40% pass must be achieved in each assessment part.
Failure to achieve 40% at first attempt in any part will result in a
referral for the module and a maximum final mark of 40%.
Word limit may be exceeded by up to 10% where that is exceeded,
the examiner reserves the right to reduce the result by 10 %
Brief description of
module content and/or
aims:
This module is aimed at broadening the students knowledge,
understanding and skills in renal nursing, taking account of national
and local policies related to health care funding; as well as an in-depth
appreciation of the physiological and technical knowledge and skills to
provide competent nursing care in renal replacement therapy units
against evidence based practice.
Critical care area examination board, INAM
Area examination board
to which module relates
Cristina Osorio Module Leader
Module team/authors/
coordinator
Semester offered, where
appropriate
Date of first approval
Date of last revision
Date of approval of this
version
Version number
Field for which module is
acceptable and status in
that field
Course(s) for which
module is acceptable and
status in course
School home
External examiner
Normally Semester Two
January 2001
June 2004
Post registration health professionals
Mandatory renal pathway level 6
Optional BSc (Hons) in Professional Clinical Practice
Optional BSc (Hons) in Professional Practice
INAM
Gareth Parsons