Nurses’ Role in Caring for Kidney Transplant Patents
Keywords:
end-stage renal disease, kidney transplantation, nursing rolesAbstract
Kidney transplantation is the most effective method of dialysis for patients with end-stage kidney disease. It involves a complex treatment process with a high risk of complications and it requires the expertise of a multidisciplinary team. Among these, the role of nurses in caring for transplant patients is crucial. Currently, Thailand faces a shortage of kidneys for transplantation, with demand exceeding donations. However, kidney transplantation remains an essential treatment option, as it increases the chances of survival for end-stage renal disease patients and improves their quality of life. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to present the role of nurses in caring for kidney transplant patients who require continuous care both before and after the transplant. Nurses must have knowledge and understanding of their role in caring for transplant patients and use evidence-based practices in their care. Key roles of nurses include pre-transplant nursing care; during kidney transplant surgery nursing care; acute post-transplant nursing care; providing education and promoting health behaviors before discharge; and coordinating care. This article helps nurses understand the diverse and critical roles they play in caring for kidney transplant patients, both independently and in collaboration with other healthcare professionals, in order to prevent complications and ultimately improve the patient's quality of life and health.
Downloads
References
Francis A, Harhay MN, Ong ACM, Tummalapalli LS, Ortiz A, Fogo BA, et al. Chronic kidney disease and the global public health agenda: An international consensus. Nature Reviews Nephrology. 2024; 20:473-85. doi: 10.1038/s41581-024-00820-6
Department of Disease Control. The department of disease control launched the “World Kidney Day 2024” campaign to promote better quality of life for the public, emphasizing equitable access to healthcare services [Internet]. [cited 2025 Nov 4]. Available from: https://ddc.moph.go.th/brc/news.php?news=41551&deptcode=brc (in Thai)
The Nephrology Society of Thailand. Clinical practice guidelines for the management of chronic kidney disease patients prior to renal replacement therapy. (Revised and Updated Edition). 1st ed. Bangkok: Srimuang Printing Co., Ltd; 2022. (in Thai)
Nisar M, Tasleem Z, Muhammad AS, Javid A, Rasool FM, Karuniawati H, et al. The direct cost of chronic kidney disease (CKD) reported in Asian countries: A systematic literature review. Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation. 2024; 22:65. doi: 10.1186/s12962-024-00566-9
KDIGO. KDIGO 2024 Clinical practice guideline for the evaluation and management of chronic kidney disease. Kidney International. 2024; 105(Suppl4S): S117-S314. doi: 10.1016/j.kint.2023.10.018.
Vijitsoonthornkul K. Epidemiology and review of chronic kidney disease prevention measures. Division of Non-Communicable Diseases. [Internet]. [cited 2025 Nov 4]. Available from: https://www.ddc.moph.go.th/uploads/publish/1308820241031010423.pdf (in Thai)
The nephrology society of Thailand. Provision of renal replacement therapy in Thailand during the year 2021- 2022. [Internet]. [cited 2025 Nov 4]. Available from: https://www.nephrothai.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/New-Annual-report-2021-2022.pdf (in Thai)
Aljawadi HM, Babaeer AA, Alghamdi SA, Alhammad MA, Almuqbil SM, Alonazi FK. Quality of life tools among patients on dialysis: A systematic review. Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal. 2024;32(3):101958. doi: 10.1016/j.jsps.2024.101958
Hafez MH. Global Perspective: Kidney transplantation in North Africa. Kidney360. 2024;5(9):1370-3. doi: 10.34067/KID.0000000000000497
Wang JH, Hart A. Global perspective on kidney transplantation: United States. Kidney360. 2021;2(11):1836-9. doi: 10.34067/KID.0002472021
Satir G. Kidney transplantation and nursing care. International Journal of Basic and Clinical Studies. 2024;13(1):56-63. Available from: https://www.ijbcs.com/ijbcs/article/view/ijbcs13106
Silva LG, Lemos KCR, Barbosa AO, Santos GMR. Perception of chronic kidney patients undergoing hemodialysis, about kidney transplantation. Journal of Nursing UFPE Online . 2020;14:e244498. doi: 10.5205/1981-8963.2020.244498
Noppakun K. KT update: situation and strategies to increase kidney transplantation in Thailand. [Internet]. [cited 2025 Sep 19]. Available from: https://cimjournal.com/interest-article/kidney-transplants-thailand/?utm_source=chatgpt.com (in Thai)
Larpparisuth N, Cheungpasitporn W, Lumpaopong A. Global perspective on kidney transplantation: Thailand. Kidney360. 2021;2(7):1163-5. doi: 10.34067/KID.0002102021.
Amornkanjanawat P, Udomkarnjananun S. The failing kidney allograft. Journal of the Nephrology Society of Thailand. 2025;31(3):195-207. doi: 10.63555/jnst.2025.279913 (in Thai)
Supon J. Nursing care for ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation. Yasothon medical journal. 2024;26(2):33-46. (in Thai)
Ratanateeravichien Y. Nursing care manual for kidney transplantation Patients. [Internet]. [cited 2025 Sep 19]. Available from: https://www2.si.mahidol.ac.th/division/nursing/sins/attachments/article/214/sins_nursing_manual_2558_02.pdf (in Thai)
Organ Donation Center, the Thai Red Cross Society. Let's Get to Know the Kidneys! [Internet]. [cited 2025 Nov 4]. Available from: https://organdonate.redcross.or.th/knowledge/1 (in Thai)
De Pasquale C, Pistorio ML, Veroux M, Indelicato L, Biffa G, Bennardi N, et al. P. Psychological and psychopathological aspects of kidney transplantation: A Systematic Review. Front Psychiatry. 2020;11:106. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00106.
Knechtle SJ, Marson LP. Kidney transplantation: principles and practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2025.
Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. Guidelines for living kidney donor evaluation. [Internet]. [cited 2025 Sep 19]. Available from: https://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/
Al Bilasi AHN, Al Shahrani MM, Al Anzi RK, Bin Suwan SS, Al Shamri MR, Albishi EM, et al. Nursing care after kidney transplant: A comprehensive review. Journal of International Crisis and Risk communication research. 2024;7(S8):2506-11. doi: 10.63278/jicrcr.vi.1247
Levan ML, LaPointe Rudow D. The psychosocial evaluation of living kidney donation: time for standardization in practice. Transplantation. 2024;108(11):e342-3. doi: 10.1097/TP.0000000000005084.
Deo AS, Manjunath D, Prasad A, Deepa D. Perioperative anaesthesia management of renal transplant recipients: a national cross-sectional survey. Indian Journal of Anaesthesia. 2023;67(Suppl 4):S288-91. doi: 10.4103/ija.ija_492_23.
Zhu Z, Chi X, Chen Y, Ma X, Tang Y, Li D, et al. Perioperative management of kidney transplantation in China: A national survey in 2021. PLoS One. 2024;19(2):e0298051. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298051
Elsabbagh AM, Ghoneim I, Moiz A, Welch K, Brown JS. Enhanced recovery after surgery pathway in kidney transplantation: the road less traveled. Transplantation Direct. 2022;8(7):e1333. doi: 10.1097/TXD.0000000000001333.
Kim HJ, Kim KW, Joo YS, Ryu J, Jung HY, Jeong KH, et al. Impact of blood pressure on allograft function and survival in kidney transplant recipients. Transplant International 2024;37:12574. doi: 10.3389/ti.2024.12574.
Murphy F, Byrne G. Promoting kidney health in cardiovascular disease: Part one. British Journal of Cardiac Nursing. 2022;17(10):1-12. doi: 10.12968/bjca.2022.0083
Kumar VG, Sony M, Ramaji GN, Praveenkumar S,Singh PR, Saurabh M. Acute pain management after kidney transplantation: a current review of literature. Indian Journal of Transplantation. 2023;17(4): 402-409 doi: 10.4103/ijot.ijot_49_23
Zhi-Yu Z, Lin-Rui D, Chen-Zhen Y, Ren-Jie C, Fei-Hong Y, Song C, Sheng C, et al. Immunosuppressant non adherence profile in kidney transplant recipients and the impact of medication adherence on transplant outcomes. Frontiers in pharmacology. 2024;15:1493166. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1493166.
Hedayati P, Shahgholian N, Ghadami A. Non adherence behaviors and some related factors in kidney transplant recipients. Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery research. 2017;22(2):97-101. doı: 10.4103/ijnmr.IJNMR_220_15.
Bennardi N, Veroux P. Psychological and psychopathological aspects of kidney transplantation: A systematic review. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 2020;11:106. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00106.
Himmelfarb J, Ikizler TA. Chronic Kidney Disease, Dialysis, and Transplantation: A Companion to Brenner and Rector’s The Kidney. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2018.
Priti M, Vinant B, Devinder SR, Bhalla, Kumar A. Urinary tract infection in renal transplant recipient: A clinical comprehensive review. Saudi Journal of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation. 2021;32(2):307-17. doi: 10.4103/1319-2442.335441
Pedreira-Robles G, Garcimartín P, Bach-Pascual A, Giró-Formatger D, Redondo-Pachón D, Morín-Fraile V. Creating the nursing care map in the evaluation of kidney transplant candidates: A scoping review and narrative synthesis. The Open Nursing Journal. 2023;10(10):6668-89. doi: 10.1002/nop2.1937.
Fournier C, Lerrat L. Transplant nurse coordinator, a key mission. Revue de l'infirmiere. 2016;65(226):28-30. doi: 10.1016/j.revinf.2016.09.010.
Lee H, Kang CM. Self-management interventions for kidney transplant recipients: A Systematic Review. Healthcare (Basel). 2025;13(15):1918. doi: 10.3390/healthcare13151918.
Saengsua I, Navicharern R. A study of self-care behavior in patients post kidney transplantation in northeast region. Journal of The Royal Thai Army Nurses. 2018;19(special):336-44. (in Thai)
Zachciał J, Uchmanowicz I, Krajewska M, Banasik M. Adherence to immunosuppressive therapies after kidney transplantation from a biopsychosocial perspective: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2022;11(5):1381. doi: 10.3390/jcm11051381.
Noppakun K. KT update: management of immunosuppressant side effects in kidney transplant recipients. [Internet]. [cited 2025 Nov 5]. Available from: https://cimjournal.com/interest-article/immunosuppressive-agents-p-1/ (in Thai)
Lentine KL, Smith JM, Lyden GR, Miller JM, Booker SE, Dolan TG, et al. OPTN/SRTR 2023 Annual data report: kidney. American Journal of Transplantation. 2025;25(2S1):S22-S137 doi: 10.1016/j.ajt.2025.01.020.
Wushi W. Optimizing quality of life in kidney transplant recipients through structured exercise: a systematic review and evidence-based guidelines. Medical Science Monito. 2024;30:e943617-1–e943617-9. doi: 10.12659/MSM.943617
de Vries LV, Dobrowolski LC, van den Bosch JJ, Riphagen IJ, Krediet CT, Bemelman FJ, et al. Effects of dietary sodium restriction in kidney transplant recipients treated with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockade: a randomized clinical trial. American Journal of Kidney Diseases. 2016;67(6):936-44. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2015.11.026.
Rakpithayanon C, Townamchai N. Proteinuria in kidney transplant recipients. Journal of the Nephrology Society of Thailand. 2024;30(4):264-74. (in Thai)
Kiran G, Tue NG, Robert TF,. Lewis HM.. Vaccination in kidney transplant candidates. Transplantation Direct. 2023;9(10):e1544. doi: 10.1097/TXD.0000000000001544
Arora S, Kipp G, Bhanot N, Sureshkumar KK. Vaccinations in kidney transplant recipients: Clearing the muddy waters. World Journal of Transplantation. 2019;9(1):1-13. doi: 10.5500/wjt.v9.i1.1.
Al-Adra D, Al-Qaoud T, Kevin F, Germaine W. De Novo Malignancies after Kidney Transplantation. Clinical Journal of American Society of Nephrology. 2022;17(3):434-43. doi: 10.2215/CJN.14570920
Connor L, Dean J, McNett M, Tydings DM, Shrout A, Gorsuch PF, et al. Evidence-based practice improves patient outcomes and health care system return on investment: Findings from a scoping review. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing. 2023;20:6-15. doi: 10.1111/wvn.12621
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Nursing and Therapeutic Care
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
