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Lucia Costantini, MN, RN

Lucia Costantini, MN, RN, is a Research Coordinator, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada. She is a member of ANNA’s Great Lakes Chapter.

Heather Beanlands, PhD, RN

Heather Beanlands, PhD, RN, is an Associate Professor, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Elizabeth McCay, PhD, RN

Elizabeth McCay, PhD, RN, is an Associate Professor, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Daniel Cattran, MD

Daniel Cattran, MD, is a Professor of Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Michelle Hladunewich, MD

Michelle Hladunewich, MD, is an Assistant Professor, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Daphene Francis, BScN, RN

Daphene Francis, BScN, RN, is a Staff Nurse, Mt. Sinai Hospital, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada.

This qualitative, exploratory study examined the self-management experiences of people with mild to moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD, Stages 1-3) to elicit participants’ perceptions of health, kidney disease, and supports needed for self-management. Findings revealed a process of renegotiating life with chronic kidney disease, which encompassed Discovering Kidney Disease and Learning To Live With Kidney Disease. A number of themes were identified, including searching for evidence, realizing kidney disease is forever, managing the illness, taking care of the self, and the need for disease-specific information. The findings indicate participants with early CKD want to self-manage their illness in collaboration with health care providers. As well, people with early CKD need guidance and support from health professionals to successfully self-manage. Nephrology nurses are uniquely positioned to provide this support while collaborating with other care providers to facilitate self-management.