Strategies, barriers and significance for renal supportive care: Role of the nurse practitioner

17^th International Conference on Nephrology & Urology

March 12-13, 2018 London, UK

Laura Lunardi

Royal Adelaide Hospital, Australia

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Nephrol Ther

Abstract :

A renal supportive care nurse practitioner (NP) role was created in Adelaide, Australia in October 2014. The integration of the role has brought with it service-wide changes in clinical practice and culture within our unit. There is now a closer integration with the local palliative care team, a greater emphasis on quality of life and active management of symptoms with more informed choices and care planning now available. This paper aims to describe the role of the NP in renal supportive care (RSC) as it has emerged in South Australia. It also identifies barriers and strategies used by the RSC NP to enhance appropriate decision-making and conservative care for patients facing end stage kidney disease (ESKD). Differing models of RSC are emerging across Australasia. The strengths and weaknesses of the South Australia approach are elucidated and the challenges facing RSC too. The transformative effects of the role have been explored and key enablers for success identified. The full integration of a meaningful supportive care pathway for patients facing ESKD involves more than fine words and good intentions. It requires significant leadership, considerable resources and service-wide cultural and clinical practice changes. The emergence of RSC is the key to a comprehensive renal service, demonstrating maturation of our shared aspirations in providing: interdisciplinary care that fine-tunes the balance between organ-based and whole-of-person care, engagement in full and open decision-making support with people facing renal treatment options and recognising and respecting the natural endpoint of an end-stage disease process.

Biography :

Laura Lunardi is a highly qualified Health Practitioner with 20 years of consolidated experience working predominantly with renal patients in public and private health sector in Australia and Argentina. She has proven ability and experience in clinical assessment, management and treatment of renal diseases, including different modalities of dialysis and conservative management for patients with ESKD. She currently works as a Nephrology Nurse Practitioner Candidate subspecialized in Renal Supportive Care at Central Northern Adelaide Renal and Transplantation Service in South Australia. In 1996, she completed her Bachelor’s degree in Medicine at the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina; become Nephrologist and; Specialist in General Medicine in 2002. In 2006, she moved permanently to Australia where she completed the Bachelor of Nursing, Renal Certificate and Master’s in Clinical Nursing in 2015. In 2017, she completed the requirements for Nephrology Nurse Practitioner and is ready to apply for Nurse Practitioner Registration in 2018.
Email:dralunardi@yahoo.com.au