The clinical nurse specialist (CNS) plays a major role in the management of patients with CKD, as well as in the maintenance of their well-being. As an expert clinician, the CNS performs a thorough assessment of the patient for any signs of co-morbidities such as anemia. The nephrology CNS also may assess patient response to treatment through blood tests for Hgb and iron stores, and recommend dosage adjustments for prescribed medications. The CNS is an expert resource on CKD-related anemia for other nurses. Moreover, the CNS collaborates with other members of the multidisciplinary team, and acts as
a facilitator between the patient and other health care providers. This fortifies the provision of multidisciplinary care, ensures comprehensive disease management for the patient, and allows the patient
to make health-related decisions more effectively (Harrison & Watson, 2011).
As an educator, the CNS helps clinical care nurses develop competence in working with anemic patients with CKD. For example, the CNS may develop formal educational programs concerning diagnosis guidelines, anemia management guidelines, appropriate protocols for followup, and special considerations in patients with cancer or hypertension. Moreover, the CNS has a major role in educating patients about their disease process, symptom management, nutritional status, and medication regimen (Murphy et al., 2010). The CNS may provide disease and treatment updates to medical and nursing staff. In collaboration with the multidisciplinary team, the CNS can create protocols for the management of anemia, and develop or participate in revision of guidelines and policies (Wickham, 2014). This increases the uniformity of patient management, expands evidencebased practice, and improves patient outcomes and treatment adherence. The use of these protocols may improve patients' Hgb values and decrease ineffective response to treatment (Murphy et al., 2010).
A randomized controlled trial assessed the efficacy of a nurse-led CKD management program (Wong, Chow, & Chan, 2010). Participants included CNSs and generalist nurses. Findings indicated significant improvement in patient adherence and several measures of quality of life, along with overall improvement in patient satisfaction, as a result of nurse involvement.