Need and baseline for harmonising nursing education in respiratory care: preliminary results of a global survey

Andreja Šajnić, Carol Kelly, Sheree Smith, Karen Heslop-Marshall, Malin Axelsson, José Miguel Padilha, Nicola Roberts, Carmen Hernández, Bridget Murray, Betty Poot, Georgia Narsavage

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (journal)peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)
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Abstract

Background
The coronavirus pandemic confirmed that respiratory nurses are critical healthcare providers. Limited knowledge is available about appropriate education to prepare nurses to deliver high-quality respiratory care. A survey was developed by the International Coalition for Respiratory Nursing (ICRN) group to identify the need for a respiratory nursing core curriculum.

Method
A 39-item survey was distributed to 33 respiratory nursing experts in 27 countries. Questions asked about current roles, perception of need, expectations for a core curriculum project and respiratory content in nursing education in their countries.

Results
Thirty responses from 25 countries were analysed; participants predominantly worked in academia (53.3%, 16/30) and clinical practice (40%, 12/30). In total, 97% (29/30) confirmed a need for a core respiratory nursing curriculum. Post-registration nursing programmes at bachelor (83.3%, 25/30) and masters (63.3%, 21/30) levels include internal/medical nursing care; less than half identified separate respiratory nursing content. The core educational programme developed should include knowledge (70%, 21/30) , skills (60%, 18/30) , and competencies (50%, 15/30), with separate paediatric and adult content.

Conclusion
Survey results confirm a wide variation in nursing education and respiratory nursing education across the world, with many countries lacking any formal respiratory educational programmes to prepare nurses capable of providing enhanced quality respiratory care. Preliminary findings of the global survey support the need for a core respiratory curriculum. To advance this significant work the ICRN group plans to conduct a Delphi study to identify core curriculum requirements for respiratory nursing education at pre-registration and advanced educational levels to flexibly meet each country’s specific educational requirements for recognition of respiratory nursing speciality practice.
Original languageEnglish
Article number210172
JournalBreathe
Volume18
Issue number3
Early online date12 Sept 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12 Sept 2022

Keywords

  • respiratory care
  • nursing

Research Centres

  • Cardio-Respiratory Research Centre

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