ĢýBeing a renal nurse will take you anywhere in the world.Ģý
Nurses are the lifeblood of healthcare, offering not only clinical expertise but deep compassion and humanity in every interaction. Their role goes far beyond administering medication or monitoring vital signsĢýthey provide comfort in times of fear, dignity in moments of vulnerability, and continuity in complex care journeys. Whether at a bedside, in a clinic, or within the community, nurses bring a unique blend of skill and empathy that can touch lives in lasting ways.
Rona Hutton has been a renal nurse for over 18 years Ģý but still has the same excitement as the day she began. Beginning work in an NHS in-centre unit in Inverness, Rona went on to complete a rotational programme in Glasgow, working in renal medicine, renal surgery, in-centre dialysis, Renal Assessment, and finally nursing education.
It was in this final rotation that Rona found her calling. Rona became a Practice Development nurse for two years, ensuring that nurses and healthcare support workers were confident, competent, and aligned with regional NHS targets.
Rona deeply enjoyed the educational aspect of her role, which led her to look into careers with Ģý UK&I. Her experience of haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, as well as her passion for teaching, made Rona confident that she would be a valuable asset to the FME UK& I team.
Rona began her FME UK&I career as a Therapy Specialist Nurse in 2023.
ĢýI could see the role growing and developing, allowing me to support patients and nursing teams across the UK Ģý this is what made me come on boardĢý.
Over her 18-year career, Rona never doubted that renal care was the field for her. When asked about what makes renal care such an attractive career path, Rona talks about how much continuity you can get with those people receiving treatment - ĢýyouĢýre often helping to support the same people, building relationships with them Ģý you can clearly see the difference that your work makes on their livesĢý.
Renal care has developed significantly over the last twenty years, and Rona can speak first-hand to how technological improvements in the efficiency, safety, and monitoring capabilities of dialysis equipment have led to improved outcomes for those with CKD. This drive for advancement in the sector never stops, and Rona describes how Ģýremote home therapies management systems have a huge impact by allowing better communication and monitoring between dialysis users and their health teams.Ģý
With home dialysis being a more common treatment option, Rona has enjoyed working with healthcare professionals to support patients to dialyse safely in the comfort of their own home. This not only provides flexibility and convenience but gives patients independence and freedom to dialyse at a time that suits their schedule. Rona has witnessed the implementation of the NHSĢý GIRFT report, which recommended that a minimum of 20% of renal centre patients receive their treatment at home. ĢýIĢýve seen that shift within the NHS & partners to try and get more renal care at home and give those with CKD a better quality of life Ģý and FME UK&I has definitely helped to support that.Ģý
Rona finds it an immensely satisfying part of her role to empower and educate people to have more autonomy with home dialysis. ĢýWhen we start training people to use our products, there is initially a lot of information to take in Ģý but over time you can watch it just clicking with them, which is brilliant to see.Ģý
RonaĢýs passion for teaching is clear to all who speak with her. When asked about what makes her suited to educational roles, Rona mentions her analytical nature.Ģý IĢýd like to think that IĢýve got good critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and I try to find out and learn everything I can Ģý one of my colleagues likes to call me a wise owl!Ģý
In a field as dynamic and important as renal care, Rona embodies the drive for personal growth that is needed to stay on top of the field. She describes how whenever there is a new product released; she has the drive to become an expert as quickly as possible. ĢýI always want to be expanding my knowledgeĢý, Rona says.
Aside from these learning-based strengths, Rona also highlights the importance of Ģýsoft skillsĢý such as communication and empathy for any renal career. ĢýThere will be times when things feel like they are not going well Ģý you have to be able to support both those receiving treatment and the healthcare teams.Ģý
This combination of her passion, attitude, and technical skillset has clearly served Rona well throughout her career. Earlier this year, she was made the Senior Therapy Specialist Nurse for Home Therapies, responsible for home therapies teams across the whole of Scotland and North. In this capacity, Rona is given the opportunity to be a part of a national network of nursing Ģý providing compassion, care, and security to those who need it across a wide range of areas.
This wide area of responsibility means that travel is a big part of RonaĢýs daily work. Rona knew that this was always going to be an important part of her role, saying Ģýthere is nothing better than being face to face and being there to physically show someone how to do somethingĢý.
And how does Rona pass the time on these long road trips? ĢýPodcastsĢý, she says. ĢýItĢýs important to be able to switch off and relax when on the roadĢý.
Progression like RonaĢýs is built into FME UK&IĢýs structure. ĢýI have been really supported by my seniorsĢý, Rona describes, describing how her personal goals aligned well with the aims of her department and team.
When asked about her predictions for the future of renal care, Rona described how she sees home therapies growing even further, with peritoneal dialysis treatment capacity also growing. ĢýThis will take pressure off of in-centre teams, freeing up space in these spaces for others with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) to receive treatmentĢý, she says.
To Rona, the future of her career and field is bright. ĢýBeing a renal nurse will take you anywhere in the worldĢý, she says.