A new nursing model for the care of patients with chronic kidney disease: the UNC Kidney Center Nephrology Nursing Initiative.

Nurses at the University of North Carolina Kidney Center at Chapel Hill have developed a systematic approach to the care of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This is an organized nephrology nursing structure that manages efficiency of patient flow and provides patient education throughout the continuum of CKD to improve patient outcomes. Patients are guided through a nurse-directed system at all points of care. The authors have created this structure using a continuous quality improvement (CQI) model to identify barriers to effective and efficient patient care, and then develop strategies to address the barriers. This article describes the development and implementation of the UNC Kidney Center Nephrology Nurse Initiative. This model of care highlights roles for nephrology nurses that are challenging, interesting, and valuable in creating an environment for efficient and high-quality care of patients with CKD.