[Physical, psychological, social, and spiritual issues facing kidney transplant recipients]

Kidney Transplantation (KT) is one of the best treatments for patients with end-stage renal disease. The "new" organ starts functioning after transplantation, but this doesn't mean that the patient now lives without chronic illness. On the contrary, the patient is actually living with another chronic disease. KT not only keeps patients alive, but also encourages them to live their daily lives well, enjoying better psychological well-being and quality of life, and playing role functions and taking responsibilities based on their development tasks. But, KT patients encounter physical problems (infection, rejection, and long-term complications), psychological problems (social stresses, depression, low self-esteem, and altered family interaction), and unemployment issues. Nurses play an important role in assisting KT patients and should adopt appropriate interventions, education programs, and psychological counseling programs to help them to cope with their stresses. This article discusses the physical, psychological, spiritual, and social issues affecting KT patients and seeks to propose suggestions regarding future studies and KT care.