What do endoscopy nurses believe is necessary for a Nurse Endoscopist role to develop in New Zealand?
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Other Title
Authors
Tucker, Dawn
Author ORCID Profiles (clickable)
Degree
Master of Nursing
Grantor
Eastern Institute of Technology
Date
2011
Supervisors
Marshall, Bob
Scrymgeour, Gill
Scrymgeour, Gill
Type
Masters Thesis
Ngā Upoko Tukutuku (Māori subject headings)
Keyword
New Zealand
endoscopy nurses
roles
nurse endoscopists
bowel cancer
screening
surveys
endoscopy nurses
roles
nurse endoscopists
bowel cancer
screening
surveys
ANZSRC Field of Research Code (2020)
Citation
Tucker, D. A. (2011). What do endoscopy nurses believe is necessary for a Nurse Endoscopist role to develop in New Zealand? (Unpublished document submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Nursing). Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT), New Zealand.
Abstract
In New Zealand there are approximately 1200 deaths and about 2700 new cases of bowel cancer each year (Ministry of Health 2009). The New Zealand Health Minister (2010) believes that a nationwide screening programme could reduce the deaths from bowel cancer by up to 36%, saving up to 270 lives a year. A government taskforce has been set up by the Ministry of Health to develop a bowel cancer screening programme. The New Zealand Ministry of Health’s Bowel Cancer Team are developing a programme to ensure existing bowel cancer diagnostic, surveillance and treatment services are working effectively and to a high standard (MOH, 2009). The Bowel Cancer Team has a current priority to “strengthen existing colonoscopy services and build the workforce” (MOH, 2009). Before the screening programme can be commenced there needs to be additional workforce capacity, and additional training for colonoscopists is already being provided (MOH, 2009).
The purpose of the research was to:
• explore the potential role of the Nurse Endoscopist as a part of the solution in fulfilling the workforce requirements of a bowel screening programme, and ascertain what the possible enablers of the Nurse Endoscopist role in New Zealand might be.
• record the current levels of practice of New Zealand endoscopy nurses including education level, experience in the specialty and demographics of the current endoscopy nursing workforce
• document the level at which endoscopy nurses aspire to practice in the future and what endoscopy nurses see as the education and organizational support they would require from managers, nursing colleagues, doctors, and other health care professionals in order to achieve their aspirations
This has relevance as a potential component of the solution in fulfilling the workforce requirements of a bowel screening programme. Background information has been included on the specific Nurse Endoscopist and Nurse Practitioner roles internationally, and the Nurse Practitioner role in New Zealand. A secondary area of exploration was ‘are there endoscopy nurses currently working in New Zealand who would wish to follow the Nurse Endoscopist/Nurse Practitioner pathway’? It would be pointless to push for further education of nurses in this area of practice if in fact there is no demand for it. Endoscopy nurses in NZ were surveyed to gain a clearer picture of what they view as the enablers and perceived barriers to the role of Nurse Endoscopist as well as the aspirations of endoscopy nurses.
This research used a predominately qualitative approach, with some quantitative data collection, using a questionnaire with both open and closed questions. This was to gain both in-depth information regarding the aspirations of New Zealand endoscopy nurses, the enablers and perceived barriers of the Nurse Endoscopist role and statistical information on the New Zealand endoscopy nursing workforce.
The findings of this research have indicated that, with the commencement and continuation of a bowel (colorectal) screening programme for New Zealanders, there will be an increased demand for endoscopy procedures and endoscopists. The findings of the research also show similar issues and enablers for the NE role in NZ as found in the international literature reviewed. New Zealand has a highly experienced and educated endoscopy nursing workforce who supports the development of the NE role. Internationally there are Nurse Endoscopists that work in this role providing safe endoscopy procedures which improve patient outcomes. The Nursing Council of New Zealand has revised the Registered Nurse scope of practice to enable expansion of practice for Registered Nurses with the appropriate levels of education and experience.
It was concluded that with the addition of a specific education pathways and funding, standardization of training for endoscopists and specific job description for Nurse Endoscopists, the future development of the Nurse Endoscopist role is possible in New Zealand.
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