Woman who targets silent killer' | Hawkes Bay News | Local News in Hawkes Bay

She is New Zealand's first renal-nurse practitioner but Rachael Walker's focus is always on her patients.

"I really want to have a more preventative approach and raise awareness about renal issues and dealing with them early," she said.

Working at Hawke's Bay Hospital in Hastings, Mrs Walker said she was thrilled to be in her new role, having graduated this year.

"It's a significant achievement in a region with a high prevalence of diabetes - the disorder leads to nearly half the cases of kidney failure in New Zealand," she said.

At 32, she is also the youngest to have gained nurse practitioner status since the Nursing Council of New Zealand established the expanded role nine years ago.

Nurse practitioners are expert nurses who work within a specific area and practice incorporating advanced knowledge and skills.

The status means she can assess, diagnose and prescribe to patients who have renal dysfunction.

"I have more autonomy, so patients don't have to wait around as much and I can take a more holistic approach when dealing with some issues - we still work very collaboratively in the unit here," she said.

Her role includes educating patients on kidney disease and how to manage their health to prevent deterioration in kidney function.

She said kidney disease was a "silent killer", with most people not developing symptoms until their disease was extremely advanced.

Originally from Wairoa, Mrs Walker graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing from EIT Hawke's Bay and went on to work in the hospital's medical wards.

After a working holiday overseas with husband-to-be Shayne, she returned to nursing and studied at EIT, completing her Master of Nursing last year.

Mrs Walker was awarded the HBDHB Associate Directors of Nursing Award for Excellence in Postgraduate Nursing Studies this year.