The role of Endometriosis Clinical Nurse Specialists in British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy registered centres: A UK survey of practice

Abstract

Abstract Aim To identify Endometriosis Nurse Specialists' roles and responsibilities in accredited Endocentres, how these align with the Royal College of Nursing Skills Framework and potential for development to improve patient care. Design Cross‐sectional national survey. Methods Data were collected from an online survey distributed to all 66 Endometriosis Nurse Specialists working across 58 UK‐based Endometriosis registered centres. The response rate was 58% (N = 38). Data from closed questions were analysed using descriptive statistics, and free text responses were collated and analysed thematically. Results Unlike Nurse Specialists in other fields of practice, most Endometriosis Nurse Specialists (N = 33, 87%) had another nursing role. The median hours worked per week as an endometriosis nurse was only 13.5 hr. Most respondents (N = 35, 92%) spent all or most of their allocated hours collecting and inputting endometriosis data, whilst over a third (N = 13, 34%) were not undertaking any autonomous, nurse‐led patient consultations.

Keywords

• clinical nurse specialist
• commissioned services
• endometriosis
• nurses
• nursing
• role development