We are hoping to add some real life success stories here but in the meantime if you need to show your worth and the complexity of your work there is no need to reinvent the wheel.
Here are some papers, reports and resources that you might find useful. These might not be in your specialism but lots of the work is transferrable. The list is not exhaustive and if you have papers or case studies you would like to add please do contact us.
-
Efficacy and cost-effectiveness of nurse-led care involving education and engagement of patients and a treat-to-target urate-lowering strategy versus usual care for gout: a randomised controlled trial
In the UK, gout management is suboptimum, with only 40% of patients receiving urate-lowering therapy, usually without titration to achieve a target serum urate concentration. Nurses successfully manage many diseases in primary care. We compared nurse-led gout care to usual care led by general practitioners (GPs) for people in the community.
-
The Early Outcomes of Nurse Case Management in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke Treated with Intravenous Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial
Intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (i.v. rt-PA) is the milestone treatment for patients with acute ischemic stroke. Stroke Fast Track (SFT) facilitates time reduction, guarantees safety, and promotes good clinical outcomes in i.v. rt- PA treatment.Nursing casemanagement is a healthcare service providing clinical benefits inmany specific diseases.The knowledge about the efficacy of a nurse case management for Stroke Fast Track is limited.We aimto study the effect of nurse case management
on clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke involving intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (i.v.rt-PA) treatment. -
Modelling the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Specialist Nurse Workforce Standards by Determination of Optimum Caseloads in the UK
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are the most common forms of inflammatory bowel disease [IBD], affecting 1 in 250 of the population in the UK. It is accepted that access to a specialist nurse service improves patient experience and outcome. National Standards for the Healthcare of People Who Have Inflammatory Bowel Disease [2013] defined the number of nurse specialists required at 1.5 full time equivalent per 250 000 population. The aim of this study was to determine if these standards were being met and to publish a new, robust, validated standard optimising the UK nursing workforce model.
-
The benefits of Clinical Nurse Specialists in addressing the workforce crisis
The importance of Clinical Nurse Specialists to the health economy
Specialist nurses, who manage the care for patients with specific conditions, are experts in the field and have an understanding of the entire patient pathway. They are able to practice at an advanced level and manage complex care1, making the patient journey more efficient and a better experience for patients2.
-
Value of the Haemophilia Nurse Specialist
Specialist nurses consistently rate higher than other healthcare professionals due to understanding patients’ needs and being a key point of contact for all involved in a chronic disease patient pathway (RCN, 2010). Yet UK specialist nurses face service cuts, downgrading of bands, confusion around titles and expansion of responsibilities with poor recognition of their value to service.
-
Nurse specialist input associated with increased access to treatment
P Beckett, I Woolhouse, R Stanley, L J Tata, M D Peake and L Darlinson (2011) Nurse specialist input is independently associated with anti-cancer treatment in lung cancer doi: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2011-201054b.90 Thorax 2011 66: A42-A43
-
Are working practices of lung cancer nurse specialists associated with variation in peoples’ receipt of anticancer therapy?
Treatment choices for people with lung cancer may be influenced by contact and engagement with lung cancer nurse specialists (LCNSs). We investigated how service factors, LCNS workload, and LCNS working practices may influence the receipt of anticancer treatment.
-
Capturing the impact of nurse consultants
by Kate Gerrish and team
-
Impact of advanced practice in Manchester
by Kate Gerrish et al 2009
-
The work of specialist nursing is complex and much of it is case management, vigilance and rescue work.
Leary A Anionwu E (2014) Modelling the Complex Activity of Sickle Cell and Thalassemia Specialist Nurses in England
-
Health Service Journal on Specialist Nurses (written specifically for managers)
The aim of the project was to introduce nurse facilitated discharge under clear guidance from the medical staff and within a clear protocol.
“Under clear guidance from the medical staff” reinforces a lot of misconceptions
-
Office of Public Management
In 2013 they published a document looking at the value of public services including nursing. Empowering the public services workforce to demonstrate their impact: Lessons from the nursing profession is worth a view – there is a case study on admission avoidance by CNSs in Heart Failure.
-
National Cancer Action Team
The National Cancer Action Team part of the Department of Health in England published Excellence in Cancer Care: The Contribution of the Clinical Nurse Specialist in 2010.
-
RCN
RCN (2010) Specialist nurses: changing lives, saving money.
-
RCN
Results of an RCN Study Clinical nurse specialists: adding value to care 2010.
-
A randomised controlled trial showing the effectiveness of rheumatology specialist nurses
A randomised controlled trial of specialist nurse vs. medical care in rheumatology which showed improved outcomes and cost effectiveness from the University of Leeds.
-
A seminal study showing the benefits of nurse led follow up
A paper from 2002 looking at the benefits of nurse led follow up in lung cancer-considered one of the most influential studies in the field.
-
A major review of nurse led care in heart failure
Cochrane Review from 2012 Clinical service organisation for heart failure showing impact of case management by specialist nurses.
-
Multiple Sclerosis Trust
The Multiple Sclerosis Trust published Defining the value of MS Specialist Nurses in March 2012 (please note this publication is due to be reviewed).
-
Showing the complexity of telephone work
Telephone work is a common method of delivering care for the specialist however is often undervalued. It’s important to show this is complex work (this example is from metastatic breast cancer).
-
The complex work of specialist nurses in Sickle Cell
Complexity of CNS work in haemaglobinopathy – this work was done involving specialist commissioners.
-
The multidimensional nature of specialist nursing work
The multidimensional nature of specialist nurse work from 2008.
-
Making a financial case for specialist nurses in cancer - different models of care and provision of one to one support Frontier Economics (2010)
One to one support for cancer patients.
-
Parkinson’s UK (2011)
Parkinson’s nurses – affordable, local, accessible and expert care: a guide for commissioners in England (the Parkinson’s website has versions for the other UK countries).
-
A review of the evidence for specialist nursing
Essential resource for an effective NHS (2011) an overview of the role and its value.
-
An early but very compressive commissioning guide in breast cancer by Breast Cancer Care (2008)
Guidance for Commissioners-includes work on how complex the CNS role is.
-
Evaluation of the British Heart Foundation Arrhythmia Care Co-ordinator Services
An evaluation of the British Heart Foundation Arrhythmia Care Co-ordinator Services.
Click here to download this resource. -
Heart Failure Nurse Services in England
The development and impact of the British Heart Foundation and Big Lottery Fund heart failure specialist nurse services in England.
Click here to download this resource. -
CNS Value of admission avoidance in inflammatory bowel disease
-
Establishing a Telephone Review Clinic for Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Patients with inflammatory bowel disease require long term follow up to assess disease activity, monitor medication compliance, detect side effects of treatments and provide psychological support.
-
The Implementation of Nurse Facilitated Discharge in Paediatrics
The aim of the project was to introduce nurse facilitated discharge under clear guidance from the medical staff and within a clear protocol.
