CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF NURSING CARE: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) constitutes a major public health problem, characterized by the progressive and irreversible loss of kidney function, significantly impacting patients’ quality of life. This study aimed to understand the importance of nursing care in the prevention and treatment of CKD. This is an integrative literature review, with a qualitative and descriptive approach, conducted through the search for scientific articles published between January 2021 and April 2026 in the SciELO, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Scopus databases, in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. The results showed that nurses play a fundamental role in early diagnosis, clinical monitoring, prevention of complications, promotion of treatment adherence, and development of health education actions aimed at chronic kidney disease patients. Furthermore, humanized nursing care contributes to improving the quality of life, well-being, and safety of patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment. It is concluded that the nurse’s role is indispensable at all stages of care for patients with CKD, being essential for promoting comprehensive, safe, and effective care.