Investigating the role of practice nurses in the early identification and management of chronic kidney disease in the general practice setting: An integrative review

Aim The aim of this study was to critically review research literature investigating the role of practice nurses in the early identification and management of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the general practice setting. Method An integrative review was performed to determine the extent to which the topic has been investigated. Quantitative and qualitative research papers were systematically located in peer-reviewed journals in electronic databases. Included papers were critically appraised using the relevant CASP appraisal tools. Findings There is a paucity of research investigating the role of practice nurses in the early identification and management of CKD in primary health care. Three articles published between 2013 and 2017 were identified: two quantitative studies and one qualitative study. One study from The Netherlands quantified positive outcomes of practice nurse-centred management of CKD in general practice. Conclusion Practice nurses may be effective in the early identification and management of CKD, including improving blood pressure control. Providing education to practice nurses appears to be a key factor in increasing practice nurses’ involvement in identification and management of CKD. Further research is warranted to see if the results are transferable to other jurisdictions.