Introduction to The Association of Respiratory Nurse Specialists (ARNS)

The Association of Respiratory Nurse Specialists, (ARNS) evolved in 1997 as a specialty nursing forum for respiratory nurse specialists and is now affiliated with the British Thoracic Society. Its purpose is to provide a supportive network for this group of nurses, to promote specialty practice through education and professional development and influence the direction of nursing and respiratory care. It is the only group in the United Kingdom that caters specifically for respiratory nurse specialists and consultants in primary and secondary care. The membership of ARNS continues to grow.

Current Situation for Respiratory Nurse Specialists (RNS) in the UK

Healthcare providers recognise the expertise of Respiratory Nurse Specialists (RNS), and their skills are being used in developing regional and national strategies to successfully manage respiratory patients in the community and in hospitals.

Changes in healthcare provision has had an impact on the role played by RNSs and the Department of Health (DOH) has recognised the critical and strategic role played by them in influencing respiratory care and changing practice. The advent of practice based commissioning, payment by results and the development of community matrons will provide further challenges to respiratory nursing.

The new GP contract has highlighted the need for expert respiratory care but the devolvement of chronic respiratory disease management to the primary care setting could potentially threaten the expertise currently provided by RNSs. Concerns have been raised that primary care based posts are being developed in isolation and without appropriate clinical supervision and governance. ARNS recognises the difficulties faced by such positions and are keen to offer appropriate support to colleagues to ensure that patients continue to receive the highest standard of evidence based care.

Further developments in independent and supplementary prescribing continue to enable RNSs to be influential in the management of respiratory disease.

Key Relationships

RNSs are highly qualified, autonomous, proactive nurses whose practice influence:
Medical consultants, SpR’s and junior doctors, GPwSIs, GPs, respiratory nurses, hospital based nurses, community matrons, practice nurses, nurse practitioners, district nurses, intermediate care teams, palliative care teams, allied healthcare professionals, social services, healthcare management, practice based commissioning, PCT’s, and patients and carers.

ARNS Objectives

• To provide a supportive network for ARNS members to encourage information sharing, best practice and research collaboration.                       

• To develop opportunities to enable collaboration between primary and secondary care services and other agencies.

• To support and promote a quality seamless service for patients with respiratory disease and their carers.

• To initiate and drive forward innovatitive projects influencing practice to improve patient care

• To co-operate and collaborate with other multi-disciplinary respiratory specialist groups to influence improvements and developments in respiratory care.

• To participate in raising the standard of respiratory nursing and clinical effectiveness in conjunction with the relevant government policies.

• To support the role of the RNS, in an ever changing political climate.

• To support and promote patient self care.

Ongoing Activities

All of the 2005-6 ARNS goals have been met.

• Annual two day conference – education, information sharing, networking, best practice sharing, dissemination of members’ research, exhibition.
• Communication through website and newsletters.
• Editorial advisory role on Nursing Times Respiratory Supplement – reviewing research, education, promoting ARNS.
• ARNS members approached for their knowledge and expertise, for national and local projects across the healthcare interface.
• Educational bursaries presented to enable ARNS members to attend national and international respiratory conferences, in collaboration with the British Lung Foundation.
• Representation on British Thoracic Society Committees.
• Expert opinion sought by outside agencies, such as The Department of Health e.g. NICE Guidelines and Nurse Prescribing, National Electronic Library for Health (NLH).
• Collaborative working with allied charities and groups e.g. Asthma UK, BLF, BTS, RCN, Education for Health and RETC.
• Liasing and promoting regional respiratory nurse groups.
• Securing funding for the ongoing support and management of ARNS

ARNS Activity 2005 -2006

• Membership
• ARNS has 385 active members
• To ensure accurate figures, members are asked to renew membership annually.

• Communication Strategies

• ARNS website: This has recently been redesigned making it more user friendly and offers the opportunity to discuss and share professional issues and expertise. It is also used as a tool to disseminate information from other organisations e.g. British Lung Foundation and it provides direct links to many related websites. Copies of presentations from the annual conference can also be found on the website.

• ARNS Newsletter: The newsletter continues to reflect the ongoing development of ARNS. These are posted on the website.

• ARNS Exhibition Stand: This has been updated and redesigned and is used to promote the association and its activities at national and international conferences. It continues to be a popular meeting place for ARNS members and raises the profile of ARNS.

• Education

• ARNS Annual Conference: This was attended by the maximum of 120 delegates and was extremely well evaluated, with the production of a conference synopsis. Members unable to attend the conference can access the conference programme and presentations via the website. It is an important opportunity for our sponsors to meet ARNS members.

• NT Respiratory Supplement: ARNS continues to enjoy a close working relationship with the Nursing Times, producing a regular respiratory supplement three times a year.

• Ambulatory Oxygen DVD. ARNS has developed a DVD to assist the assessment of ambulatory oxygen. This has been circulated to all members.

• Standards of Care

• ‘Skills for Health’ a national programme for multidisciplinary competencies have superseded the ARNS respiratory nurse competencies project, linking it with Agenda for Change.

• ARNS members are actively involved with the BTS Peer Review Scheme. An up to date database is held by ARNS and BTS of members willing to participate on peer review visits.

• ARNS is closely involved in the National COPD Resource and Outcome Project (NCROP).

• Research

• ARNS has been approached by groups/inpiduals as a resource for national and local projects, e.g. NCROP

• In developing a respiratory nursing research culture, 8 posters were presented at the annual conference, with an abstract booklet available to delegates.

• ARNS is represented on the UK Research Strategy Committee.

• Expert Opinion

• ARNS continue to be involved with government and professional agencies.

• ARNS has on going dialogue with the DOH on the changes to the provision of oxygen.

• ARNS members contributed to the development of the shadow NSF for COPD.

• ARNS continues to have representation on the steering group for the British Lung Foundation Nurse.

• ARNS has representation on advisory panels.

• ARNS continues to develop relationships with local and international respiratory nurse specialist groups.

• Organisation of ARNS

• Successful affiliation with the BTS has occurred

• Multi-company sponsorship has been secured from seven pharmaceutical companies, ensuring the continuing development of ARNS.

• ARNS Goals for 2006-7

• The continuation and expansion of ongoing activities (see page 2).

• To continue to attract new members who can contribute to ARNS philosophy.

• To ensure multi–company funding.

• To initiate the planning of a respiratory nursing book.

• To develop a short course on palliative care in respiratory disease.

• To actively participate in the political agenda in relation to preserving the role of respiratory nurse specialists.

• To encourage members to share involvement in innovative practices.

Website developed and maintained by David Long

This site was last updated: August 20, 2008