The development of the first nurse-led bronchoscopy post in the United Kingdom.
Nurses routinely practice Gastrointestinal endoscopy in the United Kingdom (UK) but, to our knowledge, bronchoscopy has never been introduced as a nursing discipline. The need for a nurse bronchoscopist was identified within our respiratory unit and the post was developed. This process involved: (1) seeking a precedent for the role of nurse bronchoscopist, (2) designing an appropriate teaching programme, (3) obtaining hospital accreditation for the programme, (4) supervising and completing the training, and (5) implementing a nurse-led bronchoscopy service. The development phase took approximately 1 year. No precedent was found for nurse-led bronchoscopy in the UK or elsewhere. The training programme defined minimum entry requirements and was modelled on UK nurse GI endoscopy training and the British Thoracic Society bronchoscopy guidelines. The role of nurse bronchoscopist was deemed to comply with professional codes of nursing practice by the chief nurse and the hospital management board authorised a service framework for the post. The first trainee completed the programme in January 2003 and has now examined 125 patients independently [endobronchial tumour biopsy hit-rate = 95% (95% CI 76-99%)]. The post of nurse bronchoscopist has been successfully developed and accredited within our hospital.
Barber
P V
PV
The North West Lung Centre, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, M23 9LT, UK. helen.taylor@smuht.nwest.nhs.co.uk
Martin
J
J
O'Donnell
P N S
PN
D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000451:nursing*; D003479:Curriculum; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods*; D015272:Pulmonary Medicine / Q000193:education*