Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an ongoing decline of renal function which may progress quite rapidly or develop slowly over many years. Due to the nature of the disease, it is linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and a host of symptoms, comorbidities, high mortality and reduced quality of life. The majority of CKD patients will be identified in primary care. Once diagnosed, patients are likely to become increasingly frequent attenders within general practice. It is therefore useful to have an overview of the disease process and the multifaceted care needs of this specific patient group. General practice nurses (GPNs) are vital members of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) who are well-placed to identify, monitor and provide ongoing support for the CKD patient.