The renal XXXX nurse specialist...a luxury or an essential player?

@entity2316 @entity1 @entity177 @entity6
@entity2316 is the single largest cause of @entity177 . As the number of @entity1 referred to a nephrologist increase, the needs of many @entity6 nephropaths are not being met. The post of @entity2316 Nurse Specialist (DNS) was instituted in September 1999 to organise the management of and to meet all aspects of need of this group of @entity1 . The role currently incorporates a daily ward round with the aim of reviewing all @entity1 at least once during every admission to hospital. Ward-based teaching with the @entity1 occurs and six nurse-led clinics covering all modalities are now in place and run alongside the Nephrologist. @entity1 are either referred directly to the nurse-led clinic or are approached by the renal DNS whilst the @entity1 is in the nephrology clinic. 71.4% of our @entity6 @entity1 have an improvement in their HbA1c after 21 months of working closely with the @entity2316 and multidisciplinary team. The average HbA1c at the beginning was 9.7%; the average is now 8%. It is clear that the role is being continuously stretched to its absolute limit. Our aim is to develop a broader service over time and we will, in the near future be employing a renal nurse with an interest in @entity6 to work alongside the DNS for six months to particularly learn about the needs of our in- @entity1 .
