ABSTRACT
AIMS: The colorectal Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) makes an important contribution to the care of individuals diagnosed with a significant polyp and early colorectal cancer (SPECC). METHODS: This paper offers an expert opinion on the role of the CNS in SPECC, informed by relevant literature. RESULTS: A CNS can support the patient through the diagnostic and treatment pathway acting as the patient's advocate as a core member of the multidisciplinary team. They will offer support and information to help patients understand their diagnosis, make choices about their available treatment options and help them to feel prepared for any treatment undertaken. CONCLUSION: By providing care that is respectful of, and responsive to, individual patient preferences, needs and values, the CNS can play an important role in promoting patient-centred care.
Subject(s)
Colorectal Neoplasms/nursing , Intestinal Polyps/nursing , Nurse Clinicians/psychology , Nurse's Role , Patient-Centered Care/methods , Colorectal Neoplasms/etiology , Humans , Intestinal Polyps/complicationsABSTRACT
The efficiency of a supervised nurse endoscopist having been established, the role of nurse endoscopists has been extended to the treatment of diminutive colonic mucosal lesions. One nurse endoscopist, under supervision by a physician mentor, has carried out more than 6,000 sigmoidoscopies in a recent 1-year period and has fulgurated one or more diminutive polyps in almost 500 patients. Larger lesions detected by the nurse endoscopist were treated by the physician.