Components of Training

Core Training
A minimum of two years should be spent in clinical nephrology training with responsibility for patient care.

Posts devoted to dialysis without other significant medical components will not be accepted for more than six months of core training. The following special areas of experience should be included in this training:

• Diagnosis of renal disease, including urine microscopy, assessment of renal function, renal biopsy and its interpretation.
  
• Organ imaging and other specialised investigations.
  
• Specialised knowledge of the management of hypertension.
  
• Fluid and electrolyte balance.
  
• Management of acute and chronic renal failure.
  
• Techniques of haemodialysis, haemofiltration and peritoneal dialysis.
  
• Renal transplantation.
  
• Urolithiasis.
  
• Urinary tract infection.
  
• Cooperative management of urological problems.

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Procedural Skills
Trainees are expected to gain expertise in renal biopsy.

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Elective Training
Normally the SAC may approve a maximum of one year elective training which may be undertaken in any field which has relevance to the management of renal patients.

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Projects or Case Reports
In each year of advanced training in nephrology, trainees are required to submit three copies of a project report to the College by 15 September. (Each report must include a cover sheet which you can download from here). The report normally should not exceed 2,000 words excluding tables and references. It should be of a similar style and format as would be considered by a referred journal.

The project report could result from one of the following areas:

• a clinical or laboratory research project;
  
• a case report which is acceptable as one of the three projects to be submitted during advanced training; or
  
• a progress report of the substantial original work in progress for a senior degree.
  

Each project should be accompanied by a statement by the supervisor confirming that the major part of the work was performed by the trainee. Presentation of a research project at a scientific meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology or the Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand or other accepted national or international meeting, is considered a sufficient alternative to the submission of a written report. In the case of presentations, a copy of the abstract (the trainee should be the first author), should be submitted to the College accompanied by a statement from the supervisor that the trainee performed a major part of the work and presented it personally.

It is preferable for one project to be submitted during each year of training by the 15 September deadline. However, at least one project must be submitted by the end of the second year of training in order for further advanced training to be approved prospectively.

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Research
It is important that trainees undertake a period of research during their advanced training.

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Training Posts
Programs will normally be approved in hospital sites that provide properly developed facilities for the management of patients with renal disorders. There should be one or more physicians who are geographically full-time, are trained in nephrology, and are able to supervise the training.

Periods of up to three months of core advanced training in nephrology may take place in a rural area without direct supervision, provided the supervisor can provide distant supervision.

Programs may be approved for periods of less than one year in particular circumstances.

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