A Survey of the Endometriosis Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Role in British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy (BSGE) Registered Centres.

Abstract

Endometriosis is a life challenging disorder that affects over 1.5 million women in the UK – around 1 in 10 women (Royal College of Nursing, 2015a). Given the uncertain and enigmatic nature of the condition and an average of 7.5 years from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis, endometriosis has a significant impact on women’s lives across a wide range of domains, including family life, work and social life, and quality of life more generally. Endometriosis not only has physical implications but can lead to significant amounts of distress amongst women. A patient-centred approach is required to manage this condition, for which there is no cure.

The role of the Endometriosis CNS is complex and demands a range of clinical, management and leadership skills. This role represents one of the first health service provision commissions to have stipulated that a service must have a nurse within the team. It is recognised that as this is a developing role, not all nurses have the full skills set required to meet all components outlined in the Royal College of Nursing skills and knowledge framework, and anecdotal evidence suggests there is disparity amongst the CNS roles across BSGE centres. However, this new post has yet to be evaluated.

Our study will be the first to explore the Endometriosis CNS role and the perceived benefits of this role for patient care. This presentation reports the findings from a nationwide survey of CNSs in BSGE centres exploring the current roles and responsibilities being undertaken.