About the course

Around half of patients who enter end stage kidney disease are older than 65 years with significant associated comorbidities, where regrettably, for many, transplantation is not an option. It is therefore important that we develop the skills and knowledge to support this area of kidney care, allowing such patients to receive the best holistic care including excellent symptom control, frailty management and good pre-emptive advance care planning allowing a focus on quality of life.

This course is aimed at all healthcare professionals, who care for kidney patients, it aims to provide staff with an understanding of kidney supportive care as a treatment option and discusses the purpose and benefits of advanced care planning.

Module 1a: Kidney Supportive Care in advanced kidney disease

By participating and completing this course you will:

• Have an understanding and awareness of kidney supportive care as a treatment option
• Be aware of the data on survival, quality of life and symptom burden of patients with advanced kidney disease
• Be able to identify patients that may benefit from kidney supportive care
• Gain an understanding of the importance of ‘signposting’

Module 1b: Advanced Care Planning (ACP) in advanced kidney disease

By participating and completing this course you will:

• Develop an understanding and awareness of Advanced Care Planning (ACP)
• Be able to identify patients that may benefit from an ACP conversation
• Gain confidence in applying the knowledge around ACP into practice
• Have the skills to initiate an ACP

Sarah Mackie, RGN, MSc, BSc (Hons)

Lead Nurse for Acute Kidney Injury, King’s College Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, London and Multi-Professional Clinical Lead, London Kidney Network (LKN).

Sarah is a senior nurse with 30 years’ experience, predominately in the field of kidney care, with a focus on maintaining excellent standards of care in busy and challenging environments. An innovator who has implemented new services to improve standards and access to care for patients. Additionally, she has a longstanding passion for education.

Paul Gillary | Learning Technologist

I'm a Learning Technologist developing online medical education and look after the KHP Learning Hub and anything else related to learning technologies.

This course was developed in collaboration with the LKN Supportive Care Workstream.