A NEED FOR SPECIALISATION IN RHEUMATOLOGY NURSING?

Background: The extent and severity of rheumatology diseases challenge the capacity and competencies of our national health care system. We have to assess the level of education necessary to ensure that the patients needs will be addressed by competent practitoners. In Norway as in many other countries, a patchwork of courses is offered, but yet no formal post registration education in rheumathology nursing.Method: For a postal survey, two questionnaires consisting of 13 and 14 items were developed.All members of the National Society of Rheumatology nurses (NSF-FSR) were included in the study. Representatives of the employers were defined as departmental heads. The total populations were included.Results: 14 representatives of the employers participated in the study. They represented all the regional hospitals, three central hospitals and one local hospital in Norway.12 respondents assessed it to be a need for a special competence in the field of rheumatic nursing. Eight respondents responded that there as of today there is a lack of nurses with formal special competence within the field of rheumatholgy nursing. At the same time they acknowledged that many of the rheumatolgy nurses do have a long and good empirical competence. When asked to suggest possible areas to go deeper into 10 of the 14 respondents suggested patient education/health education as especially interesting. Other areas suggested to go deeper into were medication There is an agreement among the nurses and their employers about which areas to go deeper in to. Nine of the respondents were positive to a long-distance post-qualifying education. Seven would offer normal salary during the education and four would offer a reduced salary during the education. The individual comments indicate that economy is an area where several factors interacts. However, in conclusion the leaders were predominantly positive to contribute economically to increase rheumatic nursing competence.96 nurses participated in the study. 96,9% of the nurses made it clear that there is a need for such competence in the field of rheumatology nursing. 51% of the nurses participating in the study were interested in joining such a program. 38 worked in a regional hospital, 33 in a central hospital, and the remaining worked in private clinics, municipal health service and local hospitals. The majority of the respondents (n=65) finished their education more than 10 years ago. 50% of the respondents (n=96) would appreciate postgraduate studies in rheumatic nursing, 21 were not interested in postgraduate studies in rheumatolgy nursing. Several of these respondents stated advanced age as a reason why they did not want postgraduate studies, even if they considered it to be important for nurses in the field to increase competence.Implications: This national survey clearly states that there is a need for a formal post registration education in rheumatology nursing. As a result of this the College of Bergen, in collaboration with NSF- FSR will start an education in rheumatology nursing, counting 45 ECT points in 2004.Citation: , volume , supplement , year 2004, page Session: Health professional and education