ENT nurse practitioners gathered at the RCSEd in September to hear the latest developments in their field, writes Angela Griggs
The joint symposium Nurse-led Management of ENT Disorders attracted over 50 nurses from across the UK, Ireland, and Channel Islands. They included ENT outpatient nurses, nurse practitioners and ward-based nurses. Because these roles are often in isolation, this course is currently one of the few opportunities nurse practitioners have to meet and discuss nurse-led ENT issues, network and share information about their roles.
The event, which was being held at the College for the third time, is organised by the RCSEd, the Royal College of Nursing’s ENT/Maxillofacial Nursing Forum, and ENTUK.
‘The annual Nurse-led Management in ENT Disorders symposia has been extremely successful in developing much closer clinical and educational links between the specialist nurses and clinicians in ENT practice’
The day started with a look at historical photographs of procedures that ENT nurses carried out from the 1950s through to the late 1980s, highlighting areas where practice has changed over the years. This was followed by a session on ENT nurse competency development, which is being developed by the RCN ENT Maxillofacial Forum. The draft aural care competency was also presented and discussed.
The day included sessions on the new commissioning process in England, patient reported outcomes (PROMS), the current political push for them, and their role in assessing services. In particular, how ENT PROMS can be used to show the value of nurses’ role came under discussion. A session on HPV, its pathology and role in cancer promotion followed with identification of its role in head and neck cancer. Discussion on the vaccination process and design covered how this affects history taking and whether viral type should be tested in each biopsy. Other topics included patient information development, problem-solving, clinical diagnosis skills and tips for the ear, nose and throat.
Ken MacKenzie, Chair of the College’s ENT Surgical Specialty Group, said: “From the perspective of ENTUK and the RCSEd, the annual Nurse-led Management in ENT Disorders symposia, held over the last three years, has been extremely successful in developing much closer clinical and educational links between the specialist nurses and clinicians in ENT practice.”
Delegates commented on the value of being able to network and exchange ideas with other ENT practitioners and that the event provided them with new ideas for expanding the nurse practitioner role. In particular, feedback indicated that the competences session was highly relevant to practice and that the sessions on diagnostic skills were very helpful.
The symposium will be held again in 2013. In 2012, ENT nurses will meet in Glasgow on the Friday of BACO for a day focused on nurse-led ENT services.
Angela Griggs, Lecturer Practitioner ENT Nursing at the Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, part of the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust and City University London.
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