National Paediatric Renal Nursing Competencies

This site hosts documents and resources related to the National Paediatric Renal Nursing Competencies, consisting of a theory workbook and practical competencies. These resources were written and ratified by experts from the Paediatric Nephrology Nurses Group. They are provided as part of a national pilot and have been developed to support all 14 paediatric kidney centres in the UK and Ireland. 

Theory Workbook

Practical Competencies

Created by the

Paediatric Nephrology Nurses Group

Written by

Diane Blyton, Anna Forbes, and Daniel Speakman

About the National Paediatric Renal Nursing Competencies

The National Paediatric Renal Nursing Competencies – comprising a theory workbook and practical competencies – have been developed to address important challenges faced by paediatric kidney centres in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

These competencies represent a crucial step toward establishing a national standard for paediatric kidney care. They emphasise a commitment to excellence and consistency in care delivery. They clarify career progression and specialisation pathways within the paediatric nephrology nursing profession to enhance retention and promote advancement at all levels.

More specifically, they address these challenges by:
  • Streamlining Training: The competencies offer a unified approach to training, consolidating various education materials into a single, coherent, and up-to-date package. By standardising the training process, they eliminate many of the disparities previously seen across different units. This streamlined approach not only makes training more efficient but also ensures that nurses receive similar training, regardless of their location.
  • Promoting Consistent Education Standards: The competencies adhere to evidence-based, validated, and approved programmes, ensuring that paediatric kidney nurses are educated to the same high standard. This consistency is crucial for maintaining excellence in care delivery across all units. By using a standardised education format, the competencies ensure that every nurse has the necessary knowledge and skills to provide top-quality care.
  • Clarifying Career Progression: The competencies outline clear career progression and specialisation pathways within paediatric kidney care. This clarity is vital for nurse retention, as it provides them with visible and attainable career goals. By understanding their potential career trajectory, nurses are more likely to remain in the field, reducing turnover and the associated costs of recruiting and training new staff.
  • Centralising Competency Tracking: A significant feature of the competencies is their ability to provide consistent evidence of competency achievement across units. This centralisation is crucial for maintaining high standards of care and ensuring that nurses are uniformly skilled and knowledgeable. It also aids in identifying areas where further training or development may be needed, thereby enhancing the overall quality of care provided.
  • Facilitating Nurse Transfers: By centralising competency tracking and standardising education and competencies, the competencies will make it easier for nurses to transfer between units. This mobility is essential for addressing regional capacity challenges. It allows for the efficient redistribution of staff to areas where they are most needed, helping to ensure that all patients receive the care they require. Additionally, this mobility can provide nurses with opportunities for professional development and advancement, further enhancing recruitment and retention.

Pilot programme

These materials are provided as part of a national pilot programme. Your feedback is essential for us to improve and finalise this content for the full launch, which will include the development of a centralised online passport that follows nurses between trusts.

Please use the feedback form below to provide any insights that could help us to improve.

Thank you!

National Paediatric Renal Nursing Competency Framework

Additional Resources

The theory workbook is designed to engage learners in exploring key topics in the nephro-urology field, prompting them to seek out answers from reliable, high-quality sources. It serves as a tool for educators and experienced staff in kidney centres to guide learners effectively. To facilitate this learning journey, an array of online resources is available. These resources are invaluable not only for completing the workbook but also for enriching the practitioners' knowledge base, enhancing their skills, and supporting ongoing patient education throughout their professional careers.

The UK Kidney Association and Paediatric Nephrology Nurses Group are not responsible for the content of these websites.

Core Kidney Care

General Knowledge


Clinical Practice Guidelines
  • Guidelines and Commentaries (UK Kidney Association)
  • KDIGO global non-profit developing evidence-based clinical practice guidelines in kidney disease
  • NICE Guidance evidence-based recommendations for health and care in England and Wales
  • Acute Kidney Injury Guidelines (KDIGO)
  • Acute kidney injury: prevention, detection and management (NICE Guidance)
  • Chronic kidney disease: assessment and management (NICE Guidance)
  • Renal replacement therapy and conservative management (NICE Guidance)

    • Resources for Families and Carers


    More specific references

    Haemodialysis

    General HD Knowledge

    Clinical practice guidelines

    More specific references

    Haemodiafiltration


    Single needle haemodialysis


    Endovascular arteriovenous fistula

    Peritoneal Dialysis

    General PD Knowledge


    More specific references

    Educator and Assessor Guide

    A guide to the theory workbook for assessors and practice educators is available. This can be edited to include additional notes and to reflect local guidance. If you are an educator in your unit, please contact the education lead at the Paediatric Nephrology Nurses Group to request a copy.

    Help us improve!

    Your feedback is important to help us improve future versions of these materials.

    Please use the form to report any errors or omissions, to share insights, or suggest other improvements.

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    Paediatric Nephrology Nurses Group

    These materials were written and ratified by experts from the Paediatric Nephrology Nurses Group (PNNG).

    The PNNG is a collection of representatives from each of the 14 children’s kidney centres in the UK and Ireland. The main functions of the group are to organise the Annual Paediatric Nephrology Nurses Conference, share and inform of best and changing practice, ensure of up-to-date information feedback from industry and encourage participation in research and education programmes.

    About the authors

    Diane Blyton

    Nurse Educator
    Children’s Renal Unit, Nottingham Children’s Hospital
    Diane is currently the Renal Educator at Nottingham Children’s Hospital. Previously she was the Haemodialysis Ward Sister, and seconded to the UKKA National Paediatric Renal Competency Framework Project. She is a paediatric renal nurse with over 25 years of experience, with a Master of Science in Health Care Education from Sheffield Hallam University, ENB 147 in Paediatric Nephro-Urology from University of Central England and Bachelor of Nursing (Hons) from The University of Nottingham.

    Her interest is in supporting the education of all nurses in managing children with renal conditions and renal replacement therapies, within the renal speciality and beyond.

    Anna Forbes

    Practice Educator
    Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
    Anna Forbes is a dedicated Practice Educator at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, specialising in Renal care. With 18 years of experience in the field, she transitioned from being a newly qualified staff nurse to her current role, showcasing her dedication, passion, and expertise to the specialty. Anna is also a Module Leader for the renal module affiliated with Middlesex University and completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Clinical Education in 2018, allowing her to enhance her teaching skills and produce innovated ideas to ensure nurses receive the best possible education on the unit. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her two young children, engaging in activities like feeding ducks, riding scooters, and enjoying ice cream. 

    Dan Speakman

    Nurse Lecturer Practitioner
    Faculty of Children’s Nurse Education and Lighthouse Ward, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children
    Dan Speakman is a Nurse Lecturer Practitioner specialising in nephro-urology at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. Since 2002, Dan has held various nursing roles in nephro-urology, progressing to Charge Nurse before assuming his current position within the Faculty for Children’s Nurse Education in 2017. Complementing his clinical background, Dan has enhanced his teaching capabilities by earning a Level 4 Certificate and Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training. He applies these credentials and experience to develop and deliver comprehensive learning pathways for nursing staff, including multi-day national nephro-urology courses and regional study days. Beyond his professional commitments, Dan finds enjoyment in cycling, trail running, and participating in ultramarathon events.

    Developed in partnership with
    Paediatric Nephrology Nurses Group

    The Paediatric Nephrology Nurses Group is a collection of representatives from each of the 14 children’s renal units in the UK and Ireland. The main functions of the group are to organise the Annual Paediatric Nephrology Nurses Conference, share and inform of best and changing practice, ensure of up-to-date information feedback from industry and encourage participation in research and education programmes.
    UK Kidney Association

    For 72 years, the Renal Association, now the UK Kidney Association, has been energetic in promoting and sharing research to improve outcomes for people with kidney disease. We have taken a lead in the education of clinicians and scientists and more recently we’ve evolved to take a major role in training doctors and developing clinical services. We are transforming how kidney care and research are delivered in the UK and beyond.

    NHS England

    This project was funded by NHS England. NHS England promotes high quality health and care for all through the NHS Long Term Plan. It supports NHS organisations to work in partnership to deliver better outcomes for patients and communities and provide value for taxpayers.