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

Abstract

BackgroundThe COVID-19 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.MethodA 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.Results30 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%, 19/30) 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.ConclusionSurvey results confirm a wide variation in nursing education and respiratory nursing education across the world, with many countries lacking any formal educational programmes to prepare nurses capable of providing enhanced quality respiratory care. These findings 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.

ERS International Congress 2022: highlights from the Allied Respiratory Professionals Assembly

“…Survey results confirmed a wide variation in nursing education and respiratory nursing education across the world, with many countries lacking formal educational programmes in this field and 97% reporting a need for an ICCRN. To advance this significant work, the ICRN group led by A. Šajnić and supervised by G. Narsavage plans to conduct a Delphi study to identify core curriculum requirements for respiratory nursing education at pre-registration and advanced educational levels to meet each country's specific educational requirements for recognition of respiratory nursing speciality practice [ 50 ]. Following HERMES methodology guidelines [ 51 ], S ajnic et al [ 52 ] presented the steps of the ICRN project: in 2020 experts were identified, the ICRN working group registered the Scoping Review Protocol [ 53 ], and the items obtained from this protocol will be included in the first online Delphi survey.…”